During the last Title V Needs Assessment, Alabama selected NPM 6 and NPM 13.2 as its areas of focus for child health. The ESM supporting activities for each NPM will continue as described below.

Children’s Health Branch

ESM 6.2 - To establish an agreement with the Alabama Partnership for Children's Help Me Grow Program to utilize their online ASQ-3 assessment tool so that parents can complete developmental screens prior to child health visits at county health departments.

SPM 2 - Percent of Alabama Medicaid-eligible children who receive a blood lead screening test at 12 and 24 months of age

A challenge that continues to present itself is inconsistent reporting from providers. The data on the percentage of Medicaid eligible children who receive a blood lead screening test is inaccurate without further screening and reporting. In partnership with Medicaid, we will explore better avenues of collecting data from providers. We will also develop an education campaign to increase screening and reporting, which will help identify at risk areas of the state.

SPM 4 - Number of school districts assessed regarding current mental health services

Oral Health Office

ESM 13.2.1 - Increase the proportion of infants and children, ages 1 through 17 years, who report receiving a preventive dental visit in the past 12 months by piloting the Home by One Program

The RDH will reestablish communication with Head Start to reinstate fluoride varnish programs.

OHO plans to purchase and distribute the “Pony Brushes His Teeth” book along with oral health kits through DHR.

OHO will continue to partner with HCCA to provide free oral hygiene supplies and education material.

OHO will continue its partnership with WIC, providing oral health kits to children enrolled in the program.

OHO will continue to develop, print, and ship oral hygiene kits, coloring books, and activity pages to Alabama public schools, upon request. In February 2020 we plan to continue the Children’s Dental Health Month activities that have been implemented in the prior two years. For 2019 OHO is planning to partner with Family Voices which plans to share OHO’s strategy with other state Title V programs in an effort to promote Bright Futures guidelines. Alabama and Family voices are discussing ways to expand Alabama’s Share Your Smile Contest to other areas of women’s and children’s health, such as dental care during pregnancy and childhood injury prevention.

ADPH plans to revisit its plans to partner with the ALDA on a school-based dental health education program in its dental districts. The volunteer dentists and dental hygienists would present oral health information to elementary school children during the school year. Children will be provided free toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and education material as well as proper oral hygiene instruction.

OHO is also exploring possible ways, with the help of Family Voices, to include CSHCN in promoting ESM 3.2.