The Wyoming Maternal and Child Health Unit’s (WY MCH) 2021-2025 strategic planning process was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and modifications to its strategic plan between FFY21 and FFY22 and beyond are anticipated.

After the March 2020 declaration of the global pandemic, many WY MCH staff had to realott work hours to assist with COVID-19 response. MCH epidemiologists and the CDC-assigned MCH epidemiologist were pulled for contact tracing, our CDC Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) colleague was assigned to work on COVID-19 communication, and the MCH Unit Manager, program managers, and other staff volunteered to help answer calls to the 24-hour provider hotline and complete contact tracing data entry. WY MCH managers and staff also juggled a trickle-down of new responsibilities normally handled by others in the Public Health Division who had to redistribute their duties to others in order to focus on COVID-19 response. Meanwhile, the key partners, community organizations, healthcare systems, and clients WY MCH planned to engage with around strategic planning were unavailable as they were also responding to the pandemic.

Fortunately, WY MCH was able to complete its Needs Assessment and State Action Plan before the September 15, 2020 submission deadline. However, the impact of the pandemic affected the degree of thoroughness WY MCH could devote to the development of its State Action Plan and planned Year 1 strategies, activities, and measures, as well as early implementation. WY MCH is working with the MCH Evidence Center to refine its plan and ESMs for Year 2, and we anticipate adjustments. WY MCH will apply lessons learned from Years 1-2 to the remaining three years of the cycle and continue requesting Maternal and Child Health Bureau support if needed.

Additionally, WY MCH recognized the need for external help to get back on track as the pandemic became more under control. In recognition of challenges due to the pandemic and interruptions to our strategic plan, we released a Request for Proposals for a consultant to help us reset in early 2021, and Lolina, Inc. was the selected entity. We expect changes to our plan as we begin to receive technical assistance from Lolina, Inc. over the next year.