Child and Family Health Strategic Planning

The Child and Family Health Division at the Minnesota Department of Health is implementing a community-focused process for setting and implementing strategies to be incorporated into a statewide strategic plan that will guide work on improving Maternal and Child Health systems going forward.

Strategic Planning Vision

Improve outcomes and equity for Minnesota's children, women, families, and communities through authentic partnerships and shared decision-making.

Background

We conducted a comprehensive assessment of the health and well-being of Minnesota's maternal and child health populations – including mothers, fathers, children (including those with special health needs), families, and communities. The Child and Family Health Division engaged the community at all steps of the process – reviewing assessment materials, completing surveys, participating in key informant interviews, and attending both virtual and in-person community forums.

The following needs were identified as the top priorities through the needs assessment process:

• Access to Services and Supports for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs: Ensuring all kids and families have what they need to thrive.
• Accessible and Affordable Health Care: Comprehensive, quality health care services, including Family Planning, that are available and affordable for all.
• Adolescent Suicide: Reducing the number of youth who take their own life.
• American Indian Family Health: Reducing disparities and supporting the well-being of American Indian families.
• Boys and Young Men: Protecting and promoting the physical, mental, and emotional health among people who identify as male.
• Care during Pregnancy and Delivery: Increasing accessible, quality health care during pregnancy and delivery.
• Comprehensive Early Childhood Systems: Ensuring Minnesota has inclusive systems that link young children and their families to all the support and services they need.
• Housing: Increasing safe, affordable, stable housing for all people living in Minnesota.
• Infant Mortality: Reducing the number of infants that die before their first birthday.
• Mental Well-Being: Ensuring all people living in Minnesota have the opportunity and skills to manage day-to-day stress, have meaningful relationships and contribute to their family and community. Including building resilience in those who experience childhood trauma.
• Parent and Caregiver Support: Supporting parents and caregivers socially and emotionally with family-focused activities, policies, and education.

For more information on the Needs Assessment process and outcomes, visit Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment. For more information about the status of each of the priority areas in Minnesota, see the Priority Briefs and Data Stories.

Strategic Planning Process

The Child and Family Health Division acknowledges that in order to advance Maternal and Child Health outcomes and equity, we need to work together in authentic, collaborative, and innovative ways. This is the only way that we will be able to "move the needle" in reducing the disparities in our communities. Community engagement is a core construct in our needs assessment and strategic planning process.

During November 2019 - March 2020, MDH implemented a community-focused process (using 11 Strategy Teams) to set strategies to address the priority needs.

For more information on the process we will be using to guide our Strategic Planning, see our Strategic Planning Methods.