Collaborative Work & Relationships
Partnerships at the state and local level ensure coordination within the MCH health care delivery system. The state MCH team provides expertise, gathers feedback, facilitates partnerships and conversations, and makes connections to assure access to services and maximize the effectiveness of the health system. Contracts with local agencies provide family centered, community based, and culturally competent services/care to MCH populations across the state. Local funding awards are based on MCH population data (census as source), plans, performance, collaboration, and potential to impact.
The Title V vision provides direction for all we do in Kansas across the life course. The program prioritizes intentional alignment of federal-state-local initiatives and interaction with state advisory groups such as: 
*PRAMS - Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS)
Other critical partners and regular communication with public and private local agencies and organizations such as public health departments, safety net clinics/federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), primary care settings, hospitals, community mental health centers, social service agencies, and school districts. Strong linkages have been identified across plans and needs assessment findings. BFH staff continue to better align and coordinate with other programs and initiatives with specific roles to address MCH population needs. Title V strategically works to set priorities, goals, objectives, and identify linkages among other core programming that serves MCH populations. Specifically, progress has been made related to reproductive health and family planning with new activities, resources, and interventions in place, and shared priorities with WIC and Child Care (e.g., breastfeeding, oral health, smoking cessation).
State Health Department Programs
Bureau of Health Promotion (BHP): MCH programs work closely with BHP on chronic disease risk reduction, tobacco cessation, injury prevention (e.g., Safe Kids Kansas), suicide prevention, and substance/opioid use prevention/response. MCH staff have been active in the development/implementation of the state's injury prevention plan; adolescent driving safety; physical activity in early care settings; and preventing and addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences. BHP also facilitates key activities for the agency around credentialing, training, and expansion of community health workers which Title V has been heavily involved in to align holistic care coordination activities.
Bureau of Epidemiology & Public Health Informatics (BEPHI): As described previously, Title V works with BEPHI related to core MCH epidemiological supports. This collaboration has resulted in implementing the PRAMS, launching maternal mortality review, and enhancing birth defects surveillance. Epidemiologists serve lead roles with the Perinatal Periods of Risk Analysis, Fetal and Infant Mortality Review processes, local public health system assessments, and developing/monitoring the State Health Assessment and Improvement Plan.
Bureau of Community Health Systems (BCHS): In partnership with BCHS, Title V supports development, training, capacity building, and systems development across the public health and MCH workforce (e.g., annual Governor’s Public Health Conference, MCH pre-conference). The KS Special Health Care Needs program participates on the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Advisory Council to support partnership and collaboration across the EMSC and Title V grants. Monthly meetings have begun with the Office of Local and Rural Health to support coordinated efforts for MCH grantees.
Bureau of Oral Health (BOH): Title V partners with BOH and other state organizations (e.g., Oral Health Kansas) to promote and support good oral health and dental care across the life course. The BOH Director also serves as the Medicaid Dental Director and participates in Title V needs assessment and planning processes. Title V continues support integrating screening and sealant services into local programs/services, expanding school-based health services, and consistent messaging across all public health programming.
Bureau of Disease Control & Prevention (BDCP): Title V and BDCP are strong partners as it relates to women’s health (e.g., immunizations; reproductive health/wellness; STI prevention and intervention during adolescence, preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum periods). As shared priorities and identified needs emerge as a result of the pandemic, there are plans to partner in establishing maternal health care managers to address both general needs, as well as those associated with COVID-19 vaccinations and treatment.
Other Public, Private & Governmental Organizations Serving the MCH Population
In addition to the robust partnerships outlined throughout this application with local health departments to provide technical assistance and funding support, the additional Title V partnerships are critical to the overall MCH service delivery.
Early Childhood Systems: Since 2019 Title V has been actively involved in the comprehensive, cross-agency early childhood systems initiative (referred to as All In For Kansas Kids). Established as a result of a robust Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan, and supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five funding, this unprecedented opportunity for statewide collaboration is focused on building a coordinated system to support early childhood. The BFH and Title V Director participates on the State Directors Team, with leadership from the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, Kansas State Department of Education, and Kansas Department for Children and Families. The approach and collaboration are based on a blueprint organized into three building blocks: Healthy Development, Strong Families, and Early Learning, consistent with the Cabinet’s Blueprint and MCH State Action Plan.
Kansas Tribes: KDHE continues its work to build relationships with the four Kansas tribes and will build from information learned during the two focus groups on tribal youth health needs conducted during the Title V Needs Assessment. Title V will include guidance for specific cultures and health services around health care transition planning and seek more conversation from youth and young adults in the tribal community as work continues in the upcoming years.
Public Health/Health Professional Education Programs: In support of public health education, Title V works with undergraduate programs at state Regents Institutions and the MPH program at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. Health professionals play an active role in development and implementation of the MCH State Action Plan and programs, including a strong presence on the KS MCH Council (the current chair is a pediatrician at the School of Medicine in Wichita). Title V has a strong partnership with the Kansas State University Research and Extension Office, with a specific focus on adolescent health. Recently, the Title V CSHCN Director has expanded a partnership with the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders program and are currently working on establishing a formal partnership agreement to compliment strategies under both grants.
Other State & Local Public & Private Organizations Serving MCH Populations
Title V works with the State Primary Care Association (Community Care Network of KS) and FQHCs to help meet the needs of women and children. FQHCs are funded to provide MCH and CSHCN services and have served as lead agencies in HRSA-funded projects, such as efforts to improve the health and well-being of pregnant/postpartum women and establish school-based health centers.
Other organizations that have not been previously mentioned include the Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas Academy of Family Physicians, philanthropies including the Kansas Health Foundation and the Kansas United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Oral Health Kansas, Child Care Aware, Kansas Child Care Training Opportunities, and Families Together (Family-to-Family Health Information Center), along with many other state and community-based organizations.
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