Offer evidence-based cessation curriculums to pregnant women, recently delivered women, mothers and other household members via home visiting services. 

WVHVP will implement an enhanced obesity/nutrition project with families served based upon the Supper in a Sack developed through George Washington University.  The five week project focuses on preparing healthy meals, family interaction, budgeting, food prep and farm to table methods of cooking.  The project partners home visiting programs with the community partners and extension offices in a common goal of reducing obesity in children, increasing physical activity and parent/child interaction.

Develop training plan working with parents screening positive for postpartum depression based upon regional collaborative meetings related to mental health and parent leadership input.

Develop a State level Health Equity plan intent to duplicate at the local implementing agency level in partnership with the WV Infant Toddler Mental Health Association (WVITMHA). The WVITMHA strives to increase awareness and build capacity of early childhood professionals to promote healthy social emotional competence in young children. The crucial role of supporting children and families has been amplified during the past year. Relationships have been sustaining during this challenging time. WVITMHA is jointly funded by MIECHV and other early childhood programs within the State.

In support of this work, the Association added a continually updated collection of resources for professionals and families during COVID-19. The collection of materials includes information on self-care, how to explain COVID-19 and social distancing to young children, behaviors that may emerge, and the impact of COVID-19 on young children. In addition, the Association developed two informational handouts for distribution within home visitation programs: Supporting WV Home Visitors and Supporting Supervisors and Reflective Practice During COVID-19.  The Association has hosted a series of lunchtime webinars in October, focused on supporting children, families, staff, and ourselves during times of uncertainty.

The WVITMHA and WVHVP will focus on health equity, inclusion, and diversity. This focus is on all areas – families served, Advisory Boards, the professional development offered, the language used, and the resources that creates and/or shares. A survey will be developed and released to local programs, partners and families on health equity.  The goal is to develop a plan that models authentic community partnerships; inclusive and culturally responsive internal and external communications; and an understanding of the social, environmental, and structural determinants of inequity. Based on the outcome of this survey, WVITMHA and WVHVP will begin developing policies and plans to improve within these areas. 

Being mindful of health equity, the Association hosted a weeklong set of webinars in May that focused on Culturally Responsive Practice with Young Children and Their Families; How to Support Families Experiencing Food Insecurity; Rebuilding Relationships After COVID; and How Substance Exposure Impacts Development and Learning. In addition, the Association hosted a screening and discussion of the documentary “Resilience – The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope.”  This series will run again in 2022 and additional series added.

Continue work of local sites participating in the federal home visiting Collaborative Improvement & Innovation Network) (CoIIN) on depression and well child visits. The pandemic halted momentum on the Maternal Depression CoIIN work, in which regions were beginning to create expanded aim statements related to maternal depression that would have taken them down parent-led paths beyond the scripted CoIIN goals. Although our LIAs continued to report on the measures for this CoIIN project, they stopped reporting Plan, Do, Study, Act  (PDSAs) related to this topic. We closed that project with 93.8% of screened women who received 1 or more evidence-based service contact showing at least a 25% reduction in depression symptoms, which exceeded the goal of 85%. In addition, 2 LIAs continued to participate in a well-child visit CoIIN through April of 2021. These successes happened concurrently with covid-related challenges, marked resilience, and innovations.

Although some of the work has halted, WV will continue to utilize this process to develop a plan for other childhood programs (childcare, Head Start and early intervention) to broaden the discussion on depression with families served.  In addition, presentations will be shared with OB and pediatric providers on the work within early childhood to further strengthen the role of early childhood in maternal health and good pregnancy outcomes.  This work will help outline recommendations on maternal mortality and several maternal mobility on the role of home visiting for the following:

·       Educating families about early prenatal care, postpartum warning signs, management of chronic conditions, treatment for perinatal mood disorders, and substance use disorders

·       Connecting families with community resources and programs (hotlines, local treatment programs, domestic violence support programs, Circle of Parents, parent led peer to peer support groups)

 

Provide evidence-based adolescent curriculum prevention programs in schools and tobacco/e-cigarette use prevention training for teachers.

 

Recognizing that a primary prevention approach is an effective way to avoid PTE and

second-hand tobacco exposure for children, the AHI will implement evidence-based

prevention and cessation strategies in schools and communities across the state. The

2018 WV School Health Profiles survey indicates that nearly all schools have a policy

that prohibits the use of tobacco and vapor related products and most schools require

students to take at least one tobacco prevention class. However, only 40% of the

schools reported providing tobacco-use prevention information to the families of their

students and only 30% of teachers reported receiving cessation training in the last 2

years. Nearly 60% of teachers stated they would like to receive additional training in

tobacco use and vaping prevention. School staff members are struggling to identify

vaping devices as they keep changing and look like other devices, such as thumb

drives. The AHCs have found many students and parents still believe vaping is safe.

Some parents even encouraged vaping as a “safe” alternative to smoking. Students as

young as middle school are telling AHCs they are addicted to vaping and are now

fearful after learning about potential health risks. The AHI will address these gaps in

required trainings and lack of education by providing evidence-based curriculum programs in schools and professional development training for teachers, both in-person

and virtually.

 

 

Disseminate prevention information, resources and materials to schools and the communities throughout the state including brochures, posters, social media posts, web site posts, YouTube, videos, etc.

 

The social learning theory is also important in school- and community-based primary prevention. The AHI will utilize this strategy by disseminating prevention information, resources and materials throughout the state in schools, community centers, School-Based Health Centers and other youth-serving organizations. Recognizing that virtual programming will remain prevalent post-pandemic, the AHI will also implement a multi-media intervention utilizing web pages, social media and developing and/or distributing materials such as posters, social media posts, YouTube videos, etc. These items will contain brief messages that address educational goals such as a positive view of not smoking or vaping, a negative view of smoking or vaping, relevant health and statistical information, skills for refusing nicotine products and the perception that most people their age do not smoke or use vapor products. The AHI is also developing a new and improved website that will offer information and resources on many adolescent health related topics.

 

Substance use in youth/teens

 

Partner with medical providers to align with best practices in prescribing controlled substances to ensure optimum outcomes.

 

The OMCFH will continue to collaborate with the WVU School of Pharmacy develop an education and training initiative addressing stimulant use and prescribing recommendations for children and youth.  Next steps include finalizing the expert panel (comprised of pediatric health care providers, pharmacists, social workers, and representatives from applicable state agencies, including WV Medicaid) which will assist in the development of prescribing best practices and recommend policy change for WV Medicaid and a potential drug utilization review (DUR) process.  Educational information will also be developed once best practices are established; this information will be disseminated via OMCFH's strategic partnerships, including its Pediatric Medical Advisory Board and in-person through academic detailing conducted by EPSDT/HealthCheck Program Specialists.

 

 

Obesity among children

 

Implement the Key 2 a Healthy Start quality improvement initiative using the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) in 50 childcare centers each year.

 

Going forth into FY year 2021-2022, the new WV HealthCheck Director will establish contact with the local pediatrician, who will serve as the subject matter expert for this project, and conduct monthly meetings to develop procedures to pilot implementation of the Key 2 a Health Start quality improvement initiative in childcare centers across the state utilizing the NAPSACC.

 

Develop a Recognition Reward Program for Child Care Centers in nutrition and physical activity meeting 60% of Best Practices for nutrition and/or physical activity for sustainability of improved best practices.

In the coming year, The WV HealthCheck program will consult with subject Matter Expert in Childhood Obesity to identify partners. From the identification of these partners, initiate a workgroup.WV HealthCheck will work toward establishing revolving meetings with the workgroup including the Subject Matter Expert to discuss and establish guidelines for Best nutrition practices and/or physical activity and to establish a recognition reward program for child care centers to improve best nutrition practices to reduce childhood obesity rates.

 

Develop intensive training module for the best practices for breast feeding and infant feeding for STARS credit for all childcare centers in WV.

In the upcoming year, partnership with the Bureau for Children and Families, Division of Early Childhood Education (ECE) as well as including other pertinent stakeholders will be built upon. Work will be geared toward establishing meetings with partners to be able to develop a curriculum to align with subject matter expert recommendations and a strategic plan for implementing the training modules with childcare centers in WV.

 

Develop social marketing campaign for Infant/Breast Feeding Friendly Child Care Centers and announce at Great Beginnings annual infant-toddler conference.

 

A social marketing campaign was developed in partnership with Division of Early Care and Education, West Virginia Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), KEYS 4 HealthyKids, and the West Virginia Breastfeeding alliance. This campaign is the West Virginia Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Designation Initiative. The social marketing campaign is to be presented during a segment of the Great Beginnings annual infant-toddler conference on September 23, 2021.

 

Develop a Recognition Reward Program for Infant/Breast Feeding Friendly Child Care Centers and announce at Great Beginnings annual infant-toddler conference.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Beginnings annual infant-toddler conference was postponed. However, efforts were made, and the conference will now be virtual and held on September 23, 2021. During a segment of the conference with social campaign and the recognition reward program will be presented to childcare attendees. During this conference application process, designation criteria, and the recognition reward items will be announced. Upon meeting all criteria and receiving the designation, the facility will receive a bonus stipend and a certificate of designation and recognition during the conference.

Information will be collected of how many attendees attended this segment of conference as well as talking with partners over the coming year to determine how many child care facilities are participating in working toward the designation as well as how many receive the designation over the coming year.

 

Each year, train at least 10 provider practices in an Obesity Prevention and Early Recognition training utilizing the American Academy of Pediatrics “5210 Pediatric Obesity Clinical Decision Support Chart.”

Within the next fiscal year, the HealthCheck/EPSDT program will work toward accomplishing this strategy by June 30, 2022. Goals to meet this strategy in the upcoming year will be: purchase copies of “5210 Pediatric Obesity Clinical Decision Support Chart” to provide training to providers, development of an educational training for HealthCheck Program Specialists to provide consistent messaging on education of providers, and to provide training to at least 10 providers on how to use the “5210 Pediatric Obesity Clinical Decision Support Chart.”

 

Each year enroll at least five provider practices to participate in the 5210 Prescription (Rx) Initiative including “dispensing” produce, physical activity and drinking water “Rx” with goal setting and tracking.

 

Within the next fiscal year, WV HealthCheck will consult with a local pediatrician who serves as a subject matter expert for this project to establish best practices for educating physicians on the 5210 Prescription (RX) Initiative which includes dispensing produce, physical activity, and drinking water. Continued Discussions with subject matter expert to discuss and develop sustainable ways for physicians to set goals and tracking will be conducted with the goal of having at least 5 participating physicians enrolled during this fiscal year.

 

With recent upgrades to WIC food package: Increase WIC participation rates-partner providers with local WIC office/staff; direct enrollment at birthing hospitals before discharge if WIC eligible and follow up at one month EPSDT visit.

To work toward meeting this strategy, the new WV HealthCheck Director will work to establish a direct point of contact within the WVWIC program to discuss and facilitate a direct enrollment/referral process before a child leaves the hospital after birth. WV Medicaid providers will continue to be educated on upcoming changes to WVWIC food packages and eligibility changes by HealthCheck Program Specialists as WVWIC outreach materials are updated and distributed. 

Increase CACFP participation and retention rates to that full utilization of federal CACFP funds are brought into WV: re-launch Leap of Taste standards with statewide training initiatives for OCN, QRIS quality specialist, health educators, nurse health care consultants and other resource and referral staff; including cook/kitchen staff “scratch” cooking training.

WV HealthCheck will work with partners to support efforts to increase Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) participation rates and support education to provider offices on statewide training initiatives as developed and reviewed by local pediatrician that is serving as the Subject Matter Expert for this initiative.

 

Incentivize Farm to ECE (same was done with farm to school but did not include childcare centers in ECE).

 

Work will be initiated to consult the local pediatrician serving as the subject matter expert toward incentivizing Farm to early childhood education (ECE). Identification of partners for his initiative will occur and meetings to be set in order to work with partnerships with Department of Education, ECE, and Department of Agriculture and other important stakeholders to be able to work toward this strategy.

 

 

Improve ECE licensing standards for obesity prevention – According to “Achieving a State of Healthy Weight,” many of the 47 Caring for Our Children obesity prevention standards are either partially met or missing, and a few are contradictory.  Licensing regulations will not be reviewed again until 2023.  

 

In the upcoming months, a meeting with Dr. Jamie Jeffrey (subject matter expert) will be established to define goals and strategies to be able to suggest and ultimately update ECE licensing standards by working with all internal and external partners to address the Caring for Our Children obesity prevention standards.