Maternal and Child Health, Title V Needs Assessment

Thank you for supporting maternal and child health in Wisconsin. The information gathered through the statewide needs assessment will inform DHS priorities for the next five years. We are sharing language to support your communications and outreach. Feel free to update these to suit your community. We hope you can share this information with your networks and also host focus groups if possible. If you have any questions or need additional materials, email the MCH needs assessment team at dhstitlevneedsassmt@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

• Share our Needs Assessment Fact Sheet (PDF In English, español, Hmoob).
• Use our Focus Group Guide (PDF, In English, español).
• Watch our partner Forum recording for tips on how to help promote the needs assessment and host focus groups.
• Fill out the Partner Participation form to let us know if you need materials and are hosting a focus group.

Newsletter and email language

DHS Launches Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment to Gather Community Feedback

Share your voice through DHS’ maternal and child health needs assessment to shape future family health programs.

The survey, from the DHS Maternal and Child Health Program, is an opportunity for individuals and families in Wisconsin to influence the priorities and focus of maternal and child health programs in the state, and is part of a comprehensive, statewide assessment the program conducts every five years as part of federal funding.

The goal for the upcoming needs assessment is to hear from people from all backgrounds and parts of our state, as well as those most impacted by future family health improvement efforts and experiences.
The confidential, ten-minute survey covers a range of topics, including prenatal care, access to health care services, maternal mental health, child and infant health, birth outcomes, and community resources and will be open into September 2024. The survey is available in English, Hmong, and Spanish.

Through the survey, DHS will identify current community strengths, partnerships, and areas where people need more support to improve the health of our maternal and child populations.

Help support the health and well-being of families in Wisconsin! Complete the short statewide family, maternal, and child health survey today. The survey is available in English, Hmong, and Spanish.

Sharable link: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/mch/blockgrant/needsassessment.htm

Social media posts

• Your voice is vital in shaping the future of maternal and child health programs. Complete the statewide DHS maternal and child health survey to shape programs for the next five years. Visit the DHS needs assessment page to take the short survey in English, Hmong, or Spanish. www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/mch/blockgrant/needsassessment.htm #MaternalChildHealth
• Join us in completing DHS’ maternal and child health survey. Your insights will guide DHS in addressing critical needs and promoting health statewide. Together, let's create a healthier future for families! Access the short survey online, available in English, Spanish, or Hmong: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/mch/blockgrant/needsassessment.htm #MaternalChildHealth

Email the needs assessment team at dhstitlevneedsassmt@dhs.wisconsin.gov with any questions.

What is meant by "maternal-child health?"

Maternal and child health includes the health and wellbeing of people who are pregnant or recently gave birth, parents who support birthing people, parents of any age, infants, children, youth and parents with special health care needs, adolescents, and people of reproductive age.

We often use the terms “woman,” “women,” or “maternal” when referring to our Maternal Child Health (MCH) programs. It is important to recognize that this community includes people who identify as women, and also do not identify as women, including gender-diverse people. We invite all people along the sex, sexuality, and gender spectrum to participate in this needs assessment.

How is this needs assessment going to reach underrepresented communities?

We are striving for strong participation from populations that help us advance equity for all, including Black/African American, Latino, Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color, members of religious minorities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit, plus (LGBTQ+) persons, persons with disabilities, including children and parents with special health care needs, persons who live in rural areas, and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

The goal of this needs assessment is to assess family health needs that are unique to each of these populations. To do so, we need your help spreading the word to community members that identify with the above characteristics so we can assess needs according to each community’s experiences across Wisconsin.

How is this needs assessment going to accommodate people who want or need to express their perspectives in a language other than English?

The community input and organizational surveys are available in English, Spanish, and Hmong. The focus group guide is currently available in Spanish. If you need or would like a focus group guide in another language, you can let us know in the Partner Participation form and we will work with you and our translation team to accommodate this request.

DHS encourages agencies to host focus groups in a language that supports the facilitator and participants’ needs. At this time, we are able to accept notes from the focus group sessions in English or Spanish. If you would like to report notes from the focus group session written in another language, let our team know by emailing dhstitlevneedsassmt@dhs.wisconsin.gov so that we can make arrangements.

Who should take the Community Input Survey?

One member of any Wisconsin household, 12 years old and older, is encouraged to take the community needs assessment survey.

Who should take the Organizational Survey?

People who professionally work with families, including but not limited to professionals who work in advancing clinical care for parents and children, civic engagement and community advocacy efforts, domestic and/or sexual violence prevention, housing support, transportation support, food and nutrition support, substance use support, education resources for families, holistic care, and other health-related fields are encouraged to participate.

If possible, please take the organizational survey as a team within your program area. DHS would prefer if multiple employees in the same program area at an organization do not complete separate organizational surveys, because we don’t want to overcount organizational perspectives in our analysis.

Can I take both the community input survey and organizational survey if I work with families professionally, but I have a different perspective to share as a community member?

You should choose one survey to take. If you are passionate about sharing your perspectives as a community member, consider taking the community needs assessment survey. If you are passionate to share organizational perspectives, consider taking the organizational needs assessment survey.

I am a community member wanting to participate in the needs assessment. Can I get compensated for taking the community input survey?

You can get compensated for taking the survey if you participate in a focus group. Part one of the focus group is taking the community needs assessment survey, and part two is having a group discussion with a focus group facilitator. After participate in a focus group, you are eligible for a fifty dollar gift card.

If you do not know of an agency near you hosting a focus group, reach out to our team by emailing dhstitlevneedsassmt@dhs.wisconsin.gov so we can connect you with an agency that may be hosting one in your area.

Can I get compensated for just taking the community input survey electronically or by paper, but not participate in a focus group?

No, there is no compensation available just for taking the community input survey. You must participate in a focus group to be eligible for compensation.

Will I be identified with my survey responses?

The surveys are confidential. You will not be putting your name or contact information on surveys.

Will I be identified with my focus group responses?

Focus group leaders will collect your contact information so that you can receive a gift card. The focus group leader is responsible for not sharing your name or other identifying information with the needs assessment team. If you complete a focus group, you have the option of sharing your email address so we can check back with you about the results of the assessment.

Can I get compensated for taking the organizational survey?

No, there is no compensation for taking the organizational survey.

Can I use my own questions for a focus group instead of the ones in the focus group guide?

To ensure focus group data is relevant and usable, we ask that you stick to the four open-ended questions listed in the focus group guide. We have provided prompts to help guide the discussion as well. You are welcome to modify the prompts or use your own prompts to better align with your unique population. We ask that you take care not to change the meaning of the question.

Can I facilitate interviews instead of focus groups?

Individual interviews are not a method for collecting data in this needs assessment; however, we want to hear from all individuals.

I work for an organization that serves families and I want to host a focus group virtually. Is this possible?

Yes, you can host a focus group online and compensate participants for participating. The focus group facilitator guide has instructions for both in person and virtual focus groups. To host a focus group, fill out the Partner Participation form.