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Needs Assessment for 2011 - 2015

Every five years each state must conduct an assessment of maternal and child health needs.  We must also examine the capacity, or ability, of the state to address those needs.  This is the opportunity for Alaska to reconfirm or realign its priorities for the next five years.  The priorities guide the appropriate development of  programs and allocation of resources under the Title V program. 

On February 19th, invited stakeholders attended a workshop to develop priorities for the next five years. Participants considered three questions:

  • Think of the women, children and families you work with or advocate for.  How might we improve their health over their entire lifespan?
  • Think of maternal and child health populations in Alaska that experience health inequities.  What can we do so these populations would have an equal chance at attaining good health?
  • How might we work together to make the most of our resources, to promote a healthier maternal and child population in Alaska?
  • Read the FY 2011 – 2015 Title V Needs Assessment
  • Read the Report to Stakeholders

For more information, please contact:

  • email:  yvonne.goldsmith@alaska.gov
  • phone:    (907) 269-0344
  • write:  AK Dept. of Health  & Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Women's, Children's and Family Health, 3601 C Street, Suite 358, Anchorage, AK  99504

What's new in MCH policy and programs?

What is the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant ?

The Title V Block Grant is a Federal-State partnership program to improve the health of mothers and children, including children and youth with special health care needs.  Two links below offer excellent descriptions of the Title V program:

Title V Block Grant Application

The Title V Block Grant program requires all states to report on maternal and child health performance measures and outcomes every year. The application includes:

  • a comprehensive description of activities that support progress towards achieving national and state goals.
  • data on performance measures, outcomes and health capacity indicators

Every state’s Title V application, including Alaska’s, is posted on the federal website. You can compare data across states.

How Are Alaska's Title V Funds Used?

The Title V program is managed by the Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health, Section of Women's Children's and Family Health (WCFH).  Services funded by Title V can be envisioned as a pyramid of four tiers consisting of:

  • Direct Health Care Services
  • Enabling Services
  • Population-based Services
  • Infrastructure Services

Allocation of funds within these categories are based on the state's maternal and child health  priorities.  These priorities were developed in 2005 following a needs assessment analysis.

Title V Maternal and Child Health Priorities, FY 2005–2010:

  1. Reduce the rate of drug use among families, primarily alcohol intake and cigarette use. 
  2. Reduce the rate of child abuse and neglect.
  3. Increase public awareness and access to health care services for children and CSHCN.
  4. Reduce the rate of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies including teen pregnancies.
  5. Increase access to dental health services for children.
  6. Reduce the rate of domestic violence.
  7. Reduce the rate of post-neonatal mortality.
  8. Reduce the rate of teen suicide.
  9. Reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight.
  10. Increase awareness around mental health issues in the MCH population.

Performance and Accountability

To measure progress towards Alaska's maternal and child health priorities, we collect data on 8 state performance measures.  We also report data on 18 national performance measures, 7 national and state outcome measures, 29 health system indicators, and 14 health system capacity indicators.