The CNMI MCH Title V program utilizes a collaborative approach to leverage federal funding and maximize local funding to assure the delivery of healthcare services for the CNMI MCH population.

The MCH Title V Program is administered under the CHCC Maternal, Infant, Child and Adolescent Health (MICAH) section. Preventive and primary care services for women and children are provided at the CHCC Women’s Clinic, Children’s Clinic – both are located at the hospital; and Rota and Tinian Health Centers- located on the islands of Tinian and Rota. Services for the MCH population include prenatal care, postpartum care, women’s health, education and counseling, case management of high-risk pregnancies, family planning, HIV/STI Prevention, and preventive screenings such as mammogram, pap smear, blood pressure screening, diabetes screening with blood sugar testing, well-child visits, developmental screenings for infants and children, newborn screening, and oral health services. Since its inception, MICAH programs, formerly the CHCC Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), and primarily the MCH Program, has worked diligently with the CHCC outpatient clinics and its medical providers on applying evidence-based approaches towards improving healthcare and health outcomes within the population.

In addition to working closely with CHCC clinic providers, the MCH program works closely with community-based partners on a variety of projects. A significant role that MCH plays towards ensuring access to healthcare is by working towards reducing barriers to access to care. The inability to pay or lack of insurance is often cited as a major obstacle in seeking preventive healthcare. The MCH Program works with the CNMI Medicaid agency to offer expedited application processing for women and children in the CNMI and receives referrals of at-risk women or children from partner agencies and medical providers.

The CNMI Title V program regularly collaborates with federal, state, and non-governmental agencies towards efforts to improve and ensure access to quality health care and needed services for the CNMI MCH population:

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
  • Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
    • Development of the CNMI PRAMS Protocol for implementation
  • Program Operations and Assessment Branch
    • The CNMI receives on-going technical assistance on immunizations and vaccine storage and handling, vaccine coverage assessments, and Immunization Information System (IIS) maintenance.

• CHCC-Health Disparities Program
  • The Health Disparities Program (HDP) works to reduce disparities and support the well-being of our community by providing accessible and affordable healthcare. The CNMI Title V program collaborates with the HDP to deliver enabling services to meet the ongoing needs of a patient to address factors which affect health, such as transportation, food and housing, education and other social assistance. 

• Association for Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP)
  • Emergency Preparedness & Response Action Learning Collaborative
    • The CNMI joined a multidisciplinary team, participated in peer-to-peer sharing, received information/guidance from national experts and individualized technical assistance, and completed an action plan for incorporating MCH into emergency preparedness and response efforts.

• Commonwealth Office on Transit Authority (COTA)
  • CNMI Public Transportation System
    • CHCC MICAH Programs works with COTA to provide public transportation services at a discounted rate or at no cost to pregnant women, mothers, children and CSHCN to meet their appointment needs for the Children’s Clinic, Women’s Clinic, Immunization and Early Intervention Program. 
    • COTA is reservation based, curb-to-curb, and door to door service that is offered to anyone on island. All CARS/Paratransit vehicles are ADA compliant.
• CNMI Public School System
  • CHCC MICAH programs partner with the CNMI Public School System (PSS) to address a variety of child and adolescent health initiatives. The partnership activities include school-based services to offer adolescent sexual and reproductive health services, vaccinations, early intervention services, and training or capacity building activities on child health related topics.

• Kagman Isla Community Health (KICH) & Tinian Isla Community Health Centers (TICH)
  • The KICH and TICH are Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) located on the islands of Saipan and Tinian, respectively. The CHCC Division of Public Health MICAH Programs partners with the CNMI FQHCs in efforts to expand vaccination coverage to ensure access to vaccines for the CNMI pediatric population. This partnership includes:
    •  Access to CDC funded vaccines for uninsured or underinsured children and adults, including pregnant women.
    • Training on vaccine storage and handling
    • Patient education/informational materials
  • Additionally, the Medical Director for Public Health and Title V MCH Director met with the FQHC Medical Director to provide an overview and presentation on programs and services available through the CHCC Division of Public Health, including MICAH programs, to the population served by the FQHC. Technical assistance on developmental screening and access to transportation vouchers for pediatric visits were among the MCH related services discussed during the meeting.

CNMI MCH Title V program staff also participates in critical partnerships and systems-building efforts and through these groups work to meet the needs of MCH populations in the CNMI:

• Early Intervention Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC): ICC serves as broad representation of stakeholders who provide input to the EI program in making infrastructure decisions that will impact services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The ICC remains the center meeting point for all the collaborating partners.

• Disability Network Partners (DNP): The Disability Network Partners (DNP) is a collaborated effort between CNMI Government Agencies that endeavors to enhance the lives of individuals with Disabilities and or Developmental Disabilities. The DNP collaborates to support opportunities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities or Individuals with Disabilities (IWDD/IWD) inclusion and accessibility to participate and engage in all events that improve their quality of life.

• Developmental Disabilities Council: The DD Council’s mission is to promote systems change to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have the same opportunities as others in the community.

• CNMI PRAMS Steering Committee: Provide input for the development or selection of state-specific questions for the survey tool; use dissemination, and application of survey findings; recommendations on developing or modifying intervention programs. 

• CNMI PMHCA Project: This is a newly established advisory council under CHCC-Community Guidance Center. The Pediatric Mental Healthcare Access Grant (PMHCA) will enable improvements and expansion of mental health care for our CNMI children and strengthen current services across the primary health clinics, hospitals and school systems that will allow for a comprehensive and coordinated care.