Public Input

Ongoing public input for Title V programs takes a variety of forms that allows direct and indirect input into Title V as well as input into general FCH programs of the Health Department. The public budget process is one opportunity, as the Health Department budget is publicly available. FCH uses its website to highlight aspects of programming, as well as features our recent Title V application, needs assessment, state action plan, data briefs, and other accompanying documents. For more, visit: healthvermont.gov.

In Vermont, the Title V partners comprise a large group of state and community leaders who advise and collaborate regularly on MCH public health and service delivery issues. These partners participated in the recent 2020 five-year needs assessment process, and are regular members of VDH advisory committees and collaborative efforts (School Health, Birth Registry, Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems, Newborn Screening, Children’s Integrated Services, Home Visiting Alliance, etc.) Historically, the FCH Director presents the Title V application to the Health Department leadership annually (on pause the last couple of years due to COVID), which includes representation from our Divisions of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Environmental Health, Substance Use Programs, Health Statistics and Informatics, Laboratory Science and Infectious Disease, Emergency Preparedness, and Local Health, as well as the Directors for Health Equity, Planning, and Workforce Development and Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners.

Starting in the 1980s, the Agency of Human Services (of which the Health Department is part) holds an annual public hearing for all the Block Grants (Social Services, Title V, Preventative Health and Health Care Services, Community Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment, Community Services, and Low-Income Energy Assistance). This hearing is formally publicized in a display ad (not in the legal column) of all the major daily newspapers in the state. Legislators are invited. State staff are present at the Public Hearing to provide informed responses to any questions posed at the Hearing. The Hearing is recorded, and a written transcription is available afterward to the public. Formal written responses to the questions posed are posted on the AHS website. Drafts of each block grant application are made available to attendees. This year’s hearing, which was held on June 15, 2023, was hybrid.

The State Health Assessment and State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) include a broad stakeholder process. With guidance from the steering committee of state and non-state partners, the Health Department put together an Advisory Committee with a wide variety of community partners, informed by programs. The SHA/SHIP leadership coordinated “out” engagement where they went and met with people in the community, focusing on populations who experience or may be at risk of experiencing health inequity. Planning for the next iteration of the SHA/SHIP has just begun.

State of Vermont legislative rules, such as those around Children with Special Health Needs, Newborn Screening, WIC, child fatality and maternal mortality review panels, committee on domestic and sexual violence, home visiting, also require public input. Proposed rules must go through a public hearing process before they become final proposed rules reviewed by the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR).

FCH leadership promote Title V at meetings of all levels. The FCH strategic plan (corresponds to Title V priority areas and performance measures) is shared with leadership of the Agency of Human Services and in the Governor’s Office. FCH Coordinators and school liaisons at the local district offices are charged with sharing FCH priorities with local level leadership and community agencies. Briefs that highlight data and Vermont FCH initiatives are shared broadly at the state and local levels.

As the COVID-19 pandemic was emerging, FCH leveraged our existing partnership with VCHIP as one means of assuring timely dissemination of credible, accurate information. Over 240 calls were hosted as of June of 2022. This unique connection to the provider community was instrumental in gathering feedback and garnering support for public health policy, guidance, the creation of tools and resources, and connecting providers to support efforts in their community during the ever-evolving pandemic (and the evolving evidence-base, knowledge/resources available for COVID-19).

In September of 2022, these calls transitioned from something primarily used to support our pandemic response to something more sustainable. We wanted to keep this convening space and this unique connection as described above. We renamed these calls the “Monthly Scoop”. These calls occur the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 12:15-1pm in partnership between AAPVT, VCHIP, and FCH. The Monthly Scoop call represents the blending of two forums – a long standing Primary Care Public Health Integration meeting with our 2.5 years of VCHIP led calls in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The content will continue to include hot topics in child health (COVID and otherwise) and will also be a platform to hear from Vermont child health professionals and community colleagues about all things that impact outcomes for Vermont’s children, youth, and families.  FCH staff facilitate regular meetings of the VDH Office of Local Health FCH Coordinators and School Liaisons who provide input on the latest MCH-related issues from the communities in which they work.

Focus groups and surveys with home visiting, WIC, CSHN, EPSDT programs are conducted to assess satisfaction with services and to solicit input for suggested improvements as well as additional services. The Perinatal Quality Collaborative uses mothers who have experienced addiction as advisors for their program. The VDH Newborn Screening Advisory Committee has several parents of children with metabolic conditions as members. Vermont’s Adolescent Health program is informed by a youth advisory committee. The Screening, Access, and Treatment for Mothers and Perinatal Partners (STAMPP) cooperative agreement held several stakeholder sessions during the development of the perinatal mood and anxiety disorder communications campaign, and the STAMPP women with lived experience interviews solicited information on the system of care for the perinatal population in Vermont.

The Division of FCH relies on the Vermont Family Network (VFN) for knowledge and awareness of issues regarding family needs. VFN is committed to a mission that promotes better health, education and well-being for all children and families, with a focus on children and young adults with special needs. Vermont’s CSHN program has a longstanding history of supporting the ongoing work of VFN through a series of subrecipient grants. VFN presents regularly to Vermont’s Title V/Division of FCH’s leadership team to bring the family voice and family advocate view to the strategic direction, action planning, and workforce development around MCH content (including Title V performance measures) and MCH competencies. In the past (pre-pandemic), VFN regularly participated in the preparation of the annual Title V submission, the five-year needs assessment, and attends the state block grant federal review when able—we hope to reinstitute this soon.

Vermont’s FCH Director is co-chair of the Building Bright Futures State Advisory Council which includes stakeholders from public and private entities in Vermont, including families. The Title V strategic priorities are shared with this group as well as the Early Childhood Interagency Coordinating Team (ECICT—state leadership working in the early childhood space).