MCH Quarterly Highlights

MCH Title V Coordinator Accepted to the Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program at Laramie County Community College

Jaycie Gutierrez, the Unit’s Title V Coordinator, will participate in a year-long program to advance her knowledge and skills. This program prepares and equips participants for public service in areas of leading people, personal development, organizational and system priorities, and managing public programs. Jaycie is ready for this next step in her personal and professional growth.

Uplift/Family Voices -- Caregiver Book Study

Uplift/Family Voices supports MCH programs and services by enhancing family engagement. They also provide resources, advocacy, and support to families who are navigating complex health challenges. This month, they start their caregiver book study, focused on Becoming Brave Together. To register and receive a free copy of the book, please email Michelle Heinen at mheinen@upliftwy.org.

MCH Epidemiology and Data Updates

PRAMS



During the last quarter, the Wyoming PRAMS Team attended the Eastern Shoshone Tribal Health Fair in Fort Washakie, the Uinta County Community Baby Shower in Evanston, and the Big Horn Basin Community Cares Event in Worland. In April, Wyoming PRAMS started pulling the first batch of moms for 2024 births. The second PRAMS Quarterly Snapshot highlights Alcohol Consumption before and during pregnancy and will be coming out soon. If you would like to learn more about Wyoming PRAMS or view the new logo, please visit our website. If you would like to be involved in the Wyoming PRAMS Steering Committee or have any questions about Wyoming PRAMS, including the rebranding or the dashboard update, please reach out to wdh-wyprams@wyo.gov.

MCH Program Updates

Child Health and Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs (CYSHCN) Program



After an extensive assessment, we have decided to sunset the Children’s Special Health (CSH), Newborn Intensive Care (NBIC), and Maternal High Risk (MHR) programs as of October 2025. These direct financial assistance programs have been an important part of our maternal and child health efforts for the past 30-plus years, however, after assessing the programming, it showed that they are only supporting a small number of families and are not serving children with special healthcare needs in the best way possible.

This decision is part of a strategic realignment of our efforts in relation to the Title V Block Grant requirements, national guidance, and the National Blueprint for Change. Moving forward, these funds will be redirected towards new initiatives that aim to support families in more innovative and comprehensive ways while addressing our five-year Title V Block Grant priorities. Our objective is to continue enhancing health and well-being through population health and systems approaches.



A list of resources for families who have participated in CSH, NBIC, or MHR can be found on our website.

Women and Infant Health Program



The MMRC is looking for members. Open positions include law enforcement, midwifery professionals, the Department of Family Services, rural community advocates, and many more. If you are passionate about preventing maternal mortality please check out all the other open slots and consider filling out the application on our website.

We’re also excited to announce that only a few months after hiring our new Wyoming Perinatal Quality Collaborative (WyPQC) Coordinator, Ellie Fearneyhough, we are already beginning our collaboration with The Naloxone Project to bring a perinatal and postpartum-focused hospital naloxone distribution project to Wyoming. This project is motivated by hospitals’ interest in improving access and care for patients that have substance use disorder (SUD), and due to the results from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee 2018-2021 report showing SUD as a contributing factor in all preventable maternal deaths reviewed during that time period. More details on the hospital recruitment, project implementation, and impact will follow in the coming year.

Youth and Young Adult Health Program



The Youth and Young Adult Health Program (YAYAHP) is offering Connect suicide postvention training for K-12 school districts and charter schools in the state, in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Education. Interested school and district administrators can request training using this form.

The 2024 Young Adult Survey is open and accepting responses through December 2024. Wyoming residents ages 18 through 29 are eligible to participate, and respondents have the option to enter a raffle for a gift card. The survey is available in English and Spanish. Please share this survey widely!

Other News and Announcements

Medicaid Postpartum Extension – Keeping Moms Covered Campaign

Since July 2023, Wyoming Medicaid postpartum coverage has been extended from 60 days to 12 months. This means postpartum moms can access essential health care services, mental health support, and preventive and treatment options to support their health through the first year after delivery. Through a partnership with the University of Wyoming, Enroll Wyoming, and Wyoming 2-1-1, the Keeping Moms Covered campaign launched to share this important update with moms and their healthcare providers. Learn more at https://enrollwyo.org/coverage-for-new-moms/. 

Open Enrollment Starts November 1

The health insurance marketplace was created to increase health coverage access and affordability. Open enrollment will begin on November 1. This is the time when almost everyone must enroll in or renew marketplace health insurance plans for 2025. You can prepare for open enrollment by:

• Contacting an Enroll Wyoming health insurance navigator to find a solution that meets your or your family's needs
• Or setting up an account at healthcare.gov to explore on your own

Information for Rural Stakeholders About Access to Maternity and Obstetric Care: A Community-Relevant Synthesis of Research

Rural communities in Wyoming and across the country face challenges related to the availability of birthing care. This synthesis summarizes available data on: 

• Challenges of providing obstetric services in rural settings
• Quality and outcomes of care at low-volume rural obstetric units
• Risks associated with rural obstetric unit closures
• Challenges faced by communities without hospital-based obstetric care

The synthesis also describes clinical and policy efforts to improve care for maternal and infant populations in rural communities, such as:

• Collaboration with childbirth professionals
• Engaging with perinatal quality collaboratives (learn more about the Wyoming PQC)
• Simulation training for rural health care providers for emergency needs
• Provider-to-provider telemedicine support
• Assessment and adjustment to financial policies

Parent Information Center Services and Supports for Families

The Parent Information Center provides a range of support and services to families around Wyoming. Here are some exciting new services they offer:

• Virtual Support Groups – these groups focus on autism support, disabilities support, and behavior support. A full October schedule and information about how to sign up are found in this flyer.
• IEP 101 Trainings – these trainings support parents’ understanding of individualized educational plans (IEPs) for parents to help them support their children. Learn more about October training opinions and how to sign up here.
• ECHO for Families – This free learning community provides opportunities for advocacy and mentorship with families of children with developmental disabilities, autism, or other complex health care needs. Fall sessions are scheduled. Virtual and in-person opportunities to join are available. Learn more about upcoming session topics, in-person sites, and more.

Parents Under Pressure

The Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents

Reposted and Adapted from September 11, 2024, HRSA Partners in Progress Newsletter

Almost half (48%) of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming, compared to 26% among other adults. Parents and caregivers deserve government, workplace, and community programs that will support their needs, such as paid family leave, access to affordable childcare, and more. 

The Surgeon General’s new advisory has more on what we can do. Watch his call to action:

A few key findings from the report are also illustrated in the graphics below (click to enlarge).

CDC Health Alert: Increased Oropouche Virus Activity and Associated Risk to Travelers

CDC discourages pregnant people from unnecessary travel to several countries, especially to Cuba, due to Oropouche virus. Infection can be devastating to the mother and the fetus. Other countries currently experiencing outbreaks include Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru.

CDC offers the following travel recommendations:

• All travelers can protect themselves from Oropouche, dengue, Zika, and other viruses transmitted by insects by preventing insect bites, including using an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellent; wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants; and staying in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens.
• Pregnant travelers should discuss travel plans, reasons for travel, steps to prevent insect bites, and potential risk with their healthcare provider.
• Pregnant people considering travel to countries with an Oropouche virus Level 2 Travel Health Notice should reconsider non-essential travel. If travel is unavoidable, pregnant travelers should strictly follow Oropouche virus prevention recommendations to prevent insect bites during travel.
• Travelers should be aware that the most common symptoms of Oropouche virus are fever and headache and that symptoms usually begin 3-10 days after being bitten by an infected midge or mosquito. Most people infected with Oropouche virus feel better within a week, but symptoms often come back.
• Travelers who have been in areas with Oropouche virus transmission should prevent insect bites for 3 weeks after travel.
• Travelers to areas with Oropouche virus transmission, including South America or the Caribbean, who develop fever, chills, headache, joint pain, or muscle pain during or within 2 weeks after travel, should:
• Seek medical care and tell their healthcare provider when and where they traveled.
• Do not take aspirin or other NSAIDS (e.g., ibuprofen) to reduce the risk of bleeding.
• Continue to prevent insect bites during the first week of illness to avoid further spread, especially in areas where mosquitoes or biting midges are active.