Maternal and Child Health is now: Family and Child Health!

We’ve changed our name, but not our services.
Read this FAQ for more information
Periodicity Schedules and Developmental Assessment Resources
Resource Description 
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Services (EPSDT)  Medicaid benefit for children and adolescents to access comprehensive and preventive health care services. Vermont provides the schedules for preventative health and dental care, as well as periodic screening, vision, and hearing services for children under the age of 21.  
Bright Futures – Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents  National health promotion and prevention guideline Vermont follows for it’s EPSDT periodicity schedule. These guidelines provide evidence-driven and theory-based guidance for all preventive care screenings and well care visits, ideally happening in the child’s medical home. 
Vermont’s Dental Periodicity Schedule  Schedules for preventative dental care for children under the age of 21, ideally happening in the child’s dental home. 

 

Resources and Referrals for Families
Resource Description
Children with Special Health Needs  Supports children with complex, chronic health conditions and/or developmental disorders, ages birth to-21. 
Home Visiting Agencies   Services including home visits by nurses, speech therapists, physical and occupational therapists, wound care specialists, social workers, home health aides, personal care attendants and others. 
Children’s Integrated Services  CIS offers early intervention, family support, and prevention services to help ensure the healthy development and well-being of children, pre-birth to age 5. 
Lactation Support   In-home and telehealth options for support with breast/chestfeeding.  
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)  Food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, counseling and programs for pregnant Vermonters, parents and caregivers with children under 5. 
Help Me Grow Vermont  Resource and referral hub to connect families with any supports they may need. 
Child Passenger Safety  Certified safety technicians are available to help at Car Seat Assistance Centers throughout Vermont. 
Local Health Offices  Connect patients with their Office of Local Health for assistance finding more local community supports. 
Vermont Health Connect  Information about health insurance plans, eligibility, and contact someone to receive in-person help when choosing insurance plans. Call 855-899-9600. 
Green Mountain Care  Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur for Vermonters. Dr. Dynasaur is low-cost or free health insurance for children, teenagers under age 19, and for pregnant people. Call 1-800-250-8427 for more information. 
Vermont Family Network Resources and support for Vermont children, youth, and families, especially those with disabilities or special health needs. Call 1-802-876-5315. 

 

Partnering with Schools

Schools are important partners in the effort to ensure all students have health insurance, medical and dental homes, and are receiving age-appropriate preventative dental and health care.  Some of the many ways schools can support these efforts are: 

  • Identify families that are uninsured and help them to get health insurance 

  • Encourage all school-aged children to have a medical and dental home and to visit them each year for age-appropriate preventative care. 

  • Collaborate with local primary care providers to establish relationships that could decrease barriers to accessing care, and support your school’s work toward increasing annual well care visit rates 

  • Educate families and staff to provide information about recommended annual well care visits. This should include the difference between well care visits and other types of visits (like sick or injury related visits). Social media, the school website and handbook, can be used to support this education.  Identify students who do not have a current annual well care visit documented and provide notification and recommendation to students and families. 

  • Periodically screen students for hearing and vision according to the Standards of Practice: School Health Services Manual (Screening), refer students to their medical home as needed, and coordinate with health care providers on outcomes. Ensure referrals happen in a timely manner and that students are receiving appropriate services to address diagnosed condition.