The Connecticut Title V program staff have provided leadership and support in delivering critical MCH services and in assisting local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes being proactive in its emergency preparedness planning and to coordinate with partners at the state and local levels to develop emergency preparedness and response plans that include the needs of the MCH population.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead administrative and planning agency for public health initiatives, including public health emergency preparedness. DPH works with federal, state, regional, and local partners to improve the state’s ability to respond in emergencies. The Connecticut Public Health Emergency Response Plan (CT PHERP) identifies DPH response activities during a public health emergency. This plan serves as the Emergency Support Function – Public Health and Medical Services component of the state’s disaster and emergency operations plans.

The Title V Program has recently engaged with the DPH Public Health Preparedness & Local Health (PHP&LH) Section to assess the Maternal and Child (MCH) epidemiology capacity and the intersection of MCH and emergency preparedness. Specifically, there is interest in looking at the organizational capacity to address the needs of women of reproductive age, especially pregnant and post-partum women, and infants (ages 0-1 years) during public health emergencies. The PHP&LH participate in several committees (that involved planning) around children’s health from the government and healthcare system sectors. The Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) children’s emergency preparedness committee, Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) grant, school safety committees, hospitals (medical surge capacity), DPH Facility licensing & Investigation Section (FLIS) for hospital care, local health departments around vulnerable populations (which include children), and others.

Over the past fifteen months during the COVID-19 pandemic, Title V has supported disaster preparedness planning in DPH and across Connecticut. Title V program staff were involved and consulted in the planning and development of the State’s reporting structure for the testing sites available in each region/municipality, and as part of that structure, served as the point person to pull all the information together and provide it to United Way of Connecticut’s 2-1-1, the Governor’s website, and to the regional coordinators to share with their regions.