Program Partnerships, Collaboration, and Coordination

The MICAH Program has been instrumental in forging strong partnerships to enhance disease prevention and public awareness activities. Other strategies to strengthen the MICAH Program’s capacity to promote and protect the health of the target population are: 1) work with schools to ensure children enrolled are up to date with their immunization; 2) work with partners during island-wide community events which strongly emphasize lifestyle behavioral changes including health care practices, diet, and physical fitness; 3) establish a network linkage with other providers to inform them of health news, health alerts, awareness events, training, etc.; and 4) develop partnerships with other agencies to ensure continuity of care.

Much of the island-wide work accomplished by MICAH staff is done in collaboration with other state agency staff, particularly those who work within the Division of Public Health, and the Department of Education. MICAH personnel work with other state agency staff on a nearly daily basis through coalitions, task forces, advisory groups, committees, and through cooperative agreements.

The CNMI Public School System (PSS), in particular the Early Intervention Service, is an essential partner to the CSHCN Program. Together, the agencies offer services for children served by the CSHCN Program. A Title V staff member is a member and represents the department on the Interagency Coordinating Council, with membership requiring a governor appointment.

The PSS is an essential partner in activities relevant to early childhood state systems building efforts; the coordinated school health model; work with school counselors; and school-based activities. They also work with the CNMI Community Guidance Center, which leads underage drinking and suicide prevention efforts. The Community Guidance Center also addresses suicide and violence prevention and has strong ties to the federal, state, and community agencies and programs that carry out risky behavior reduction activities.

The MICAH Program works with the HRSA 330e-funded Kagman Community Health Center to improve accessibility and expand primary care services for low-income and vulnerable

populations. These efforts include information sharing and referrals to care especially for those who are low-income and uninsured.

The CNMI WIC Program, a program within MICAH, is instrumental to current efforts focused on increasing breastfeeding rates, food security, and decreasing childhood overweight and obesity.

Family Planning services include efforts to address unintended pregnancy, preconception health, and preventing risky teen sexual behavior. Currently, MICAH funds are not used for direct family planning services, but rather, support procurement of pharmaceutical supplies such as contraceptives and population-based activities around unintended pregnancy prevention. This unit has strong ties to the programs that work on STD/HIV prevention and services.

The MICAH Program also works with the Immunization Program via interdepartmental activities, such as campaigns focused on increased routine childhood vaccination coverage and seasonal vaccines like influenza and RSV.

Relationships with the Public Health Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Programs are strong and support work between MICAH projects and programs such as Diabetes, Cancer, Tobacco Control and other chronic disease prevention and health promotion. For example, the partnership has had a longstanding collaboration in addressing healthy weight among children.

The Health Vital Statistics Office (HVSO) is an established partner of the MICAH Program. This long-term relationship has led to the development of MICAH-specific data and resources. The HVSO serves a critical role in providing CNMI birth and death data to Public Health, enabling programs, including MICAH Programs, to use the information to guide interventions, perform surveillance efforts, and evaluate efforts.

The MICAH Program has an established working partnership with Northern Marianas College (NMC) for training needs of both clinical and programmatic staff, conducting awareness activities in nutrition and physical activity and preventing and controlling non-communicable disease. The NMC School of Nursing provide volunteers during events such as school vaccination campaigns and health fairs. All Division programs conduct outreach activities at schools during their health fairs, science fairs, nutrition awareness events, etc.

Each unit manages on-going advisory groups and specific task forces that are made up of public and private partners that share concern and responsibility for addressing the needs of women, children, and families. Additionally, staff participates in partnerships led by colleagues within other state, federal, and community organizations.

Regional Partnerships

At the regional level, the Division of Public Health has engaged with organizations such as the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) of the World Health Organization (WHO). These partnerships facilitate shared learning, technical assistance, and capacity building across Pacific Island jurisdictions. Through these regional partnerships, the CNMI Public Health, inclusive of MICAH programs, participates in strategic planning and policy alignment with other island health systems, promoting regional consistency and evidence-based practices. The CNMI also receives direct support in workforce development, epidemiology training, and health system strengthening.

Additionally, the Division works closely with regional hospitals and public health agencies in Guam, American Samoa, and the Federated States of Micronesia to coordinate responses to communicable disease outbreaks, exchange clinical expertise, and share data to support surveillance and contact tracing efforts.

National Partnerships

Nationally, the CNMI Division of Public Health partners with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), Association of Immunization Managers (AIM), and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP). These partnerships provide access to funding, technical guidance, policy support, and training that are instrumental in the development and implementation of public health programs.

With CDC support, CNMI has launched and sustained key programs in immunization, chronic disease prevention, emergency preparedness, and maternal and child health. CDC’s regional project officers provide tailored support that accounts for the CNMI’s unique context, ensuring grant activities are both feasible and impactful.

Through HRSA funding, the Division supports increasing access to preventive health services, primary care development, and the integration of behavioral health services in underserved communities. CNMI also participates in national learning collaboratives facilitated by ASTHO and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) to adopt best practices and innovative approaches to local health priorities.

Impact of Partnerships

These partnerships have enabled CNMI MICAH Programs to:

•          Implement data-driven health interventions tailored to the local population;
•          Strengthen workforce capacity through technical assistance and training;
•          Improve access to preventive and primary care services;
•          Increase community engagement in public health initiatives;
•          Respond more effectively to public health emergencies.