MCH Data Capacity: MCH Epidemiology Workforce

MCH epidemiology support in Research and Statistics include:

The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System program consists of a full-time Coordinator (Public Health Analyst III) and two half-time Data Managers (Administrative Assistant B).  The PRAMS Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the program, analyzing data. and collaborating with MCH staff, other health department staff and external partners. The Data Managers are responsible for data collection, including mailings and phone interviews, and data management. These positions are funded by the CDC PRAMS grant with additional state support.

The Birth Information Network Coordinator (Public Health Analyst III) is responsible for managing a registry for infants born with birth defects and other conditions and providing referrals to Children with Special Health Needs. This is a full-time position and is funded by the CDC’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Program.

Another Public Health Analyst III in the R&S unit spends approximately half-time on MCH data.  He is responsible for reviewing and updating the PRAMS sampling plan annually, drawing the monthly sample, processing the annual weighted data file, and conducting analyses.  He also works extensively with the birth, fetal death, and abortion files. Along with the SSDI Coordinator he is now responsible for case finding for maternal mortality reviews.  He is primarily state funded, with some time funded by Title V.

The Public Health Analyst III that supports the Oral Health Program spends approximately half-time on analyses related to pregnant women and children, including impact of increasing the Medicaid benefit for pregnant women on their dental utilization, dental claims for children, data from dental hygienists working in schools and WIC clinics, and overseeing the periodic Basic Screening Survey (BSS) for kindergarten and third graders.  This position is funded by the CDC’s Oral Health grant.

Since the CDC’s MCH Epidemiologist was transferred from Vermont in September 2020, a Research and Statistics Analyst who is also the SSDI Analyst, has been responsible for reporting for HRSA’s Maternal Depression and Related Behavioral Disorders Program.  This position is state funded, but funding is provided from the MDRBD grant for time spent on this work. 

The Research and Statistics Chief spends approximately half her time overseeing MCH analyses.

Funding provides for.25 FTE in injury surveillance. Over the last year, this has been shared by several analysts as the work evolved. We anticipate COVID-19 surveillance specific positions will relieve capacity challenges and allow this work to be assigned to one dedicated analyst moving forward.

The CDC’s Health Disparities Grant will provide funding for a new Public Health Analyst II to focus on analyses of the WIC data.  This position is currently being recruited for.