February 2024

In this Issue:

  • WA's Blood Lead Testing is One of the Lowest in the US
  • Equitable Care Question of the Month
  • Vax Corner
  • WCAAP News & Information
  • Earn Free MOC Part 4 and CME Credits with our WA-CHIP Learning Collaborative
  • Pediatric Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative Update
  • Please Complete WCAAP's Universal Development Survey
  • A few spots remain for our upcoming Spring GATHER Cohort
  • Resources
  • Free CME Category I Webinar: Migraine in Pediatrics
  • Free CME Category II Webinar: Neurocutaneous Syndromes: What Primary Care Providers Need to Know
  • Who's Who at WCAAP

Testing for Lead: WA's Blood Lead Testing is One of Lowest in the US

Leigh Cullen, MPA,

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevent Program, WA Department of Health


While childhood lead poisoning in Washington state is less common than it once was, unfortunately, it is not just a thing of the past. Children are particularly susceptible to the damaging effects of lead, especially those six years old and younger who have sensitive, growing brains and nervous systems. Children are often asymptomatic despite having elevated blood lead levels.


Testing for lead in the blood is the only way to find out if a child has been exposed, so it is crucial to include a blood lead test in well-child visits. Unfortunately, Washington state’s blood lead testing rate is one of the lowest in the country. In 2018, only 4% of children under age 6 were known to have been tested for lead compared to the national average of 18%. With testing rates so low, it is difficult to determine how many children in our state are getting exposed to lead.

Read More

Equitable Care Question of the Month


Five-year-old Sophie comes in with her mother for her annual wellness exam. It's early summer and Sophie’s mom worries aloud about the upcoming wildfire season, which seems to be worsening each year. Their rental home doesnʻt have air conditioning and summer temperatures are increasing in your region, which makes it harder for them to stay indoors with windows closed.

Read More and Submit Your Answer

February Vax Corner

Maria Huang, MD, FAAP

WCAAP Vaccine Committee Co-Chair


Daylight Savings Time is approaching and sadly, we will lose a precious hour when we “spring forward.” Reclaim that hour and many more if you:


Encourage your patients and families to sign up for MyIR!


It’s less work for you and your staff when parents call to get vaccine records. There is even an option on MyIR to print a certificate of immunization (CIS) for school. Families will have their child’s immunization record available at any time. Consider having a QR code in each clinic room so families can easily sign up.


MyIR Mobile will be available in Spanish starting February 8, 2024. Users will be able to toggle the language their account is displayed in from English to Spanish.


Use this link to download and print flyers for your clinic or see attached. Promotional Flyer for MyIR (English and Spanish) (PDF).

Join our Upcoming WA-CHIP Cohort!

Receive free MOC Part 4, CME credits, and boost HEDIS measures with our WA-CHIP Immunization Learning Collaborative beginning in March. Two clinic leaders will average two hours per month on this project.


We are still looking for 3 King County clinics with 50% of patients on Medicaid, or located in South Seattle to increase child and adolescent vaccination rates to join us. 

 

Click on the flyer for more information, or contact Marina Martinez at mmartinez@wcaap.org if you want to join or have additional questions.

Pediatric Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative Update 

Ali Goodyear, MPH

Program Manager



WCAAP is nearly five months in to our 9-month Pediatric Community Health Worker (CHW) Learning Collaborative that supports clinics across Washington state as they embed CHWs into their care teams to address the mental health, early relational health, and health-related social needs of children and families. Thirty clinics across the state received the Health Care Authority’s (HCA) Community Health Worker Grant that began in January 2023. Since September, WCAAP has supported 11 of these clinics through participation in our Learning Collaborative focused on improving CHW role clarity and team integration. Participating clinics receive technical assistance and coaching to implement strategies to improve in these areas, regular data about their site’s progress, and a peer learning space where clinics can address challenges and share resources and lessons learned.  

Read More

Universal Developmental Screenings Survey

WCAAP wants to hear from you! Please complete this short survey to help WCAAP better understand current pediatric screening during well-child checkups.

Click the button below to complete the survey--thank you for your input!

Screening Survey

A few Spots Remain! Join our Upcoming GATHER Cohort

Beginning in March, this quarterly learning collaborative focuses on improving health equity through 3, 1.5 hour peer conversation sessions with providers from across Washington State. Participants will learn to improve their practice of EDI using a quality improvement framework, self-assessment, and peer discussion. MOC Part 4 and CME credits are available.


Two cohorts will be available: midday on Thursdays or evenings on Mondays.


Register below or reach out to Elexis Jackson with any questions.


Register Here!
Resources

Migraine in Pediatrics


Join Heidi K. Blume, MD, MPH from Seattle Children's on February 29th, from 6 - 7pm PST for a free, virtual Category 1 CME event to learn more about recognizing and treating migraines in pediatric patients. Register below, or click the image above for more information.

Register Here

Neurocutaneous Syndromes: What Primary Care Providers Need to Know


Join Drs Stephanie Randle and Aimee Sato from Seattle Children's on March 19th, from 6-7pm PST for a free, virtual Category II CME event to learn more about recognizing neurocutaneous syndromes. Register below or click the image above for more information.

Register Here
Who's Who at WCAAP

We've had a lot of new staff join the WCAAP! Below is an updated staff directory (with photos!) our respective roles, and email addresses.

Sarah Rafton, MSW

srafton@wcaap.org

Executive Director Organizational strategy, community partnerships and operations

Board and Executive Committee, multiple WCAAP committees

Kailani Amine, MHA

kamine@wcaap.org

Director

Grant Oversight, Contract Management

Early Childhood Programs

Early Childhood Committee



Sarah Nau, MSW

snau@wcaap.org

Communications Director

Internal and external communications, media relations and PR requests, Legislative and Membership Committee



Elexis Jackson

ejackson@wcaap.org

Administrative Coordinator

Operational and Board support, GATHER, Equity Committee and Legislative, Membership, and Transformation Committee support


Ali Goodyear, MPH

agoodyear@wcaap.org

Program Manager

Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative

Marina Martinez

mmartinez@wcaap.org

Program Manager

WA-CHIP

Immunization Learning Collaborative

Vaccine Committee


Colleen McCarty, MPH

cmccarty@wcaap.org

Program Manager

Parent Involvement

Champions for Youth

Local Health Jurisdiction Programs



DeAnna Dudley Pittenger, BSN, RN-CPN

ddudley@wcaap.org

Program Manager

Special Projects HPV Immunization Learning Collaborative

Leslie Graham, MSW, LICSW

lgraham@wcaap.org

Program Manager

Special Projects

Behavioral Health Learning Network

Community Health Worker Learning Collaborative


Michelle Tolman, MPH

mtolman@wcaap.org

Data Manager

Amber Ulvenes

aulvenes@wcaap.org

Legislative Liaison

Facebook  Instagram  Linkedin  Youtube
Get Involved!

Join us! Committees are a great way to meet other members and get involved with Chapter work. Watch this space for upcoming meeting dates and times for Chapter committees and interest groups. Most committees meet by phone or via Zoom for one hour, and we welcome anyone who is interested.


Legislative Affairs Committee

Next meeting February 20, 2024, 7:00-8:00am

Meets weekly via Zoom during the legislative session

Meets monthly via Zoom during the interim + ad hoc as needed

Contact Elexis Jackson for meeting info.

Contact Crystal Shen to learn more about the committee. 


Equitable Care Committee

Next meeting February 27, 2024, 12:15-1:15pm

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Elexis Jackson for meeting info and to learn more about the committee.

If interested in joining, please fill out this application.


Early Childhood Committee 

Next meeting March 6, 2024, 7:00 - 8:00am

Meets every other month via Zoom

Contact Kailani Amine for meeting info.

Contact Mary Ann Woodruff or Emily Ferrell to learn about the committee.


First Year Families Committee

Next Meeting February 16, 2024, 1:00-2:30pm

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Kailani Amine for meeting details and Committee information.


Vaccine Committee

Next Meeting February 16, 2024, 7:00-8:00am

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Marina Martinez for meeting info.

Contact Frank Bell or Maria Huang to learn about the committee. 



Champions for Youth Committee

Next Meeting: February 14, 2024, 8:00-9:00am

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Colleen McCarty for meeting details and Committee information.


Membership Engagement Committee 

Contact Sarah Nau for meeting info.

Contact Amanda Monnahan or Cora Breuner to learn about the committee.  


Health Care Transformation Committee 

Next Meeting March 22, 2024 7:30-8:30am

Meets monthly via Zoom

Contact Elexis Jackson for meeting info.

Contact Rick Levine or Sarah Rafton to learn about the committee.