Background: The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program undertook an extensive, statewide needs assessment as part of its Title V block grant activities in 1999-2000. This needs assessment presented an opportunity to use primary and secondary epidemiologic and health services data for decision making at the county-level.
Objective: The goal of this needs assessment was to engage district and county public health staff and communities in the MCH strategic planning process through county-level participation in data collection, analysis, needs identification, priority setting and strategic planning. This planning process was conducted in all of Louisiana’s nine health districts and the majority of its 64 counties.
Methodology: The methodology implemented was a five stage needs assessment process of: 1) Collecting and analyzing primary data at the county level, and state analysis of secondary data (vital statistics, etc.). 2) Developing county data packets of each county's epidemiologic and health services data. 3) Training county teams to determine needs, set priorities and propose strategic plans to address local gaps in MCH needs. 4) Conducting statewide MCH priority setting and health planning. 5) Reporting the findings.
Results/Conclusions: The outcomes expected include: 1) A comprehensive statewide needs assessment reflecting both the state and counties' needs. 2) Improved capacity of district health departments and county public health staff to use data to identify priority needs and develop strategic plans to fill the gaps in essential MCH services. 3) Decentralization of MCH program decision making, budgeting, and contracting to the district level. 4) Data for Healthy Communities planning.
Learning Objectives: By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to: - Discuss the methodology used by Louisiana Office of Public Health for its Title V MCH needs assessment
Keywords: Needs Assessment, Maternal and Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health Program
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.