The Alabama Title V MCH Block Grant Program is administered by ADPH, through FHS. FHS does not directly administer aspects focusing on CYSHCN but contracts with CRS. CRS is a major division of ADRS, which administers services to this population.

Discussion of how FHS and CRS invite public input follows.

ADPH-Bureau of Family Health Services

As part of the fiscal years 2019-2020 MCH Needs Assessment, FHS sought public input via the following initiatives: three web-based surveys (survey of families; survey of adolescents; and survey of healthcare providers serving women of childbearing age, children, youth, and their families), 17 focus groups, 22 key informant interviews, and an advisory group meeting convened for the MCH needs assessment.

FHS seeks input by convening several state advisory groups that have consumer representation for persons affected by particular health issues. These groups respectively advise FHS on the following programs: Newborn Screening, Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Planning Grant, and Family Planning. The Newborn Screening advisory group advises the bureau on both screening for hematological and biochemical disorders and on screening for hearing impairment.

FHS no longer convenes the advisory group for the Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Planning Grant. The group is now convened by the Alabama Partnership for Children, but FHS continues to participate and receives input on its implementation of early childhood system initiatives.

FHS advisory groups serve as channels for public input on resource and policy development for their respective programs. For example, the Newborn Screening advisory group recommended criteria for the provision and distribution of metabolic foods and formula to infants and adults with PKU in FY 2008, as well as a standardized protocol for newborn-screening blood collection from infants in the neonatal intensive care nursery in FY 2009. Both recommendations were implemented.

Further, three key ways that FHS seeks input on MCH issues are through collaboration with the State Perinatal Advisory Committee, the Regional Perinatal Advisory Committees, and the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.

The Alabama Title X Family Planning Program has an Advisory Committee that meets at least once a year. Committee members broadly represent their various communities across the state and are knowledgeable of the family planning service needs in their area. A consumer of the program is also a member. The purpose of the committee is to provide feedback regarding the development, implementation, and evaluation of the family planning program, as well as to review and approve any educational or informational material used in the program. This committee ensures that the family planning needs of the various communities are being met and that all educational and informational materials are suitable for the population and community for which they are intended.

FHS Cancer Prevention and Control Division obtains public input through two roundtable groups. The Breast Cancer Roundtable meets annually to assist in program decisions. Representatives include the Susan G. Komen for The Cure, North Central Alabama, which represents constituents in northern Alabama; The Joy to Life Foundation, which represents constituents in southern Alabama; the American Cancer Society; several hospitals across the state; cancer centers in the state; other community organizations; and survivors of cancer.

WIC serves women who are pregnant, who recently had a baby, or who are breastfeeding; infants; and children up to the age of 5 years. To qualify to receive WIC benefits, the applicant must meet income guidelines and have at least one nutrition risk documented.  Benefits provided by the WIC Program include quality nutrition education and services, breastfeeding promotion and support, referrals to Maternal and Child Health care services and other assistance agencies, and supplemental foods prescribed as a monthly food package. The Alabama WIC Program is federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. Per federal regulations, all WIC agencies must post for public comment its annual State Plan and Procedure Manual. Receipt of federal funds is contingent upon completing this process.

FHS maintains a Title V MCH webpage (which is part of ADPH's main web site, www.alabamapublichealth.gov) that informs viewers about the Federal-State Title V partnership. A link to obtain a copy of the FY 2019-20 MCH Title V Statewide Needs Assessment can be accessed from the site. The MCH Epi Branch will continue to update the state Title V MCH web site to link to the latest MCH Block Grant Annual Report/Application and to post any associated attachments. Also, the “contact us” page on this site provides a mechanism for the public to email comments directly to the MCH Title V program. The public can also email comments directly to other FHS programs using their induvial webpages on the ADPH site as well. Furthermore, ADPH utilizes several sources of social media which are open to public comment. Well Woman takes full advantage of the availability of social media outlets by allowing each Well Woman location to have its own separate Facebook page. These pages facilitate open and public communication directly between the district Well Woman staff, partners, and program participants.

Children’s Rehabilitation Service

As part of the FY 2019 – 2020 MCH needs assessment, CRS sought public input via the following initiatives: two web-based surveys (families and youth), five focus groups, 17 key informant interviews, and convening the CRS Needs Assessment Advisory Committee. Input from the CRS Needs Assessment Advisory Committee which consists of key partners and stakeholders was sought during an initial planning meeting and via the April 2020 online prioritization process. The online process allowed Advisory committee members to enter detailed comments which CRS Needs Assessment Leadership Team took into consideration when selecting the priority needs. The CRS 2020 Title V MCH Block Grant Comprehensive Needs Assessment Summary can be accessed from the ADRS website at https://rehab.alabama.gov/news/blog.

CRS values public input from individuals with lived experience and seeks input from families and youth on an ongoing basis through the State Parent Advisory Committee, Local Parent Advisory Committees, and Youth Advisory Committee. These advisory groups allow stakeholders to provide input regarding policy development and program activities. Families and youth are compensated for participation on state advisory committees and childcare is provided in order to reduce barriers to participation. CRS assures cultural and linguistic competence and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act at all meetings. In addition, the SPC, LPCs and YCs provide input into CRS special projects such as serving on teams for the National MCH Workforce Development Center Health Transformation Project, Care Coordination Academy, and CMC CoIIN.

CRS also holds an annual Hemophilia Advisory Committee meeting to seek input into programmatic and policy issues related to the Alabama Hemophilia Program administered by CRS. The committee consists of individuals with various interests in the hemophilia community, including clients, parents, insurance representatives, physicians, other State agencies, such as Medicaid, and local providers of treatment and medication.

The ADRS Office of Communications & Information maintains the Department’s website which includes CRS’s webpage (www.rehab.alabama.gov/services/crs). Through the ADRS-Today feature of the website CRS can seek public comment through News Releases, a Media Gallery, and the ADRS blog. The CRS webpage provides a “contact us” feature for the public to email comments directly to CRS; or the public can call a 1-800 number for direct contact. CRS utilizes several sources of social media, which are always open to public comment. Both the SPC and YC utilize social media to foster communication among the general public, CRS staff, partners, and program participants through the Parent Connection and Youth Connection Facebook pages.