National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ)

January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month! A baby is born with a congenital abnormality every 4.5 minutes. It's important for care providers to understand the impacts these conditions have on children's development and health throughout their lives. Congenital abnormalities can vary in how widely they impact someone’s body, with many requiring lifelong care. However, medical advancements continue to improve the health and survival rates of people living with congenital abnormalities. ??Browse the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention birth defects awareness guide: https://bit.ly/4h8GxbZ Of Florida's 4.2 million children, 19.6% have special health care needs. In collaboration with Florida Health, the National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ)'s Florida Children's Medical Services Learning and Action Network (FL CMS LAN) project supports seven networks to build quality improvement programs and create a high-quality system of care for the state's youth. Additionally, the Enriching Environmental Influences of Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program aims to enhance child care through understanding psychosocial environmental exposures and calls for the advancement of disability inclusivity in healthcare practices. ?? Learn how to engage patient/family partners in your work: https://bit.ly/3WDmTfP ?? Read NICHQ’s ECHO insight: https://bit.ly/3WASdMg | Browse educational ECHO resources: https://bit.ly/4hbA5AV

Karen Chustz, MSW, is the National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ)'s Senior Project Director for the Supporting Healthy Start Performance Project. As the youngest of five and with three older sisters, she has seen the challenges of motherhood, including the challenge of receiving adequate care. Karen was recently featured in an employee profile, sharing her professional inspiration in community-facing work and why she works at a child health organization. Read more about her experience here: https://bit.ly/3PJ2L8n Karen’s previous roles have emphasized the importance of trust-building and partner engagement, which are integral to her work on the Health Start Technical Assistance and Support Center (TASC) project. Karen and the Healthy Start TASC team aim to provide exceptional support and resources to their partners nationwide. Learn more about Healthy Start TASC: https://bit.ly/4h4Z7ld

Unprecedented climate events have been a serious cause of concern for the emotional security and well-being of children and adolescents according to an article from KFF Health News. This phenomenon, known as climate anxiety, can influence the broader youth mental health crisis. To address increased feelings of anxiety and stress surrounding the instability of the climate, some pediatricians are suggesting the inclusion of climate-based questions in pediatric mental health screens while the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended clinical practice and medical school curricula to integrate climate change counseling. Although climate change makes many adolescents feel helpless, simple civic engagement and family activities can help cultivate a more positive relationship with the environment. Learn more about climate anxiety and coping strategies: https://bit.ly/3CjGb2O

In the past decade, the state of California has seen a 6% improvement in infant survival without major morbidity. To see if this improvement is equitable across racial and ethnic groups and if these positive trends are seen in safety net neonatal intensive care units (snNICUs), non-morbid survival rates of infants from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative (CPQCC) were examined. Read the full study: https://bit.ly/40lG2nw All racial and ethnic groups had enhanced survival outcomes between 2008 and 2021, but Black and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander infants had the most improvements. That said, disparities still exist in survival rates and the uneven distribution of marginalized groups receiving care at snNICUs. National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ) is proud to serve as the coordinating center for the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (NNPQC), which aims to address these inequities and improve maternal and infant health outcomes across the nation. Learn more about NNPQC: https://bit.ly/4akO5Wn

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several hospitals repurposed their pediatric units to accommodate the influx of adult patients. Financial burdens fell on pediatric care facilities, putting additional strains on the already limited system. The impact of these restructuring processes on access to pediatric care has not been widely investigated. A recent study compared patient intake data between 2019 and 2021, finding a 17.2% decline in hospitals treating pediatric patients. Rural areas had the most pronounced capacity reduction, which was proportional to hospitals with high numbers of Medicaid recipient admissions. Limiting access to pediatric care can lead to negative health impacts, especially for historically marginalized populations. Read the study: https://bit.ly/4h92yXB

The National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ) 2024 Reader Engagement Survey is still collecting responses, and we would appreciate your insight. Our survey covers several areas, including how you engage with NICHQ, what topics you are most interested in, and your thoughts on our new website. Take the survey: https://bit.ly/4iNZH8f The survey should only take a few minutes to complete. We appreciate your feedback and will use your responses in our efforts to achieve optimal health outcomes for children and families.

National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ) is wishing you a happy holiday season! As 2024 comes to an end, NICHQ wants to celebrate the season's holidays and festivities with you. During this time of reflection, we also want to celebrate the accomplishments we have made with our partners to improve health outcomes for children and families across the country. We should all be proud of the progress we have made together. We wish you happiness, peace, and health in this holiday season and we look forward to your continued partnership in 2025!

Here is your reminder that the National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ)’s 2024 Reader Engagement Survey is here! Take the survey: https://bit.ly/41osvxM To help us better serve you, we would like to know how you engage with NICHQ and use our resources, what topics matter to you the most, and your satisfaction with our rebranding. Your participation in this brief survey will help us in our mission to improve health outcomes for children and their families. We appreciate your feedback!

December 2-6, 2024 is National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of children get sick with flu every year, and thousands will be hospitalized as a result. Pregnant people also are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications. NIVW is observed every year in December to remind everyone 6 months and older that there's still time to get vaccinated against flu. Use the CDC’s shareable resources to help promote the importance of getting an annual flu vaccine: https://bit.ly/41lX1Ip.

The National Institute for Children's Health Quality (NICHQ) has launched our 2024 Reader Engagement Survey, and we would appreciate your feedback. This year we are asking about how you engage with NICHQ, topics you want to see in the future, and satisfaction with our new branding and new website. Take the survey: https://bit.ly/41cb57z The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Your response will help us in our future endeavors as we ensure optimal health outcomes for children and their families, mothers and birthing people, fathers and partners, and caregivers.