The Washington State Department of Health is stepping up its game with the unveiling of a new Perinatal Dashboard that delves into the nuts and bolts of pregnancy and parenting across the state. The online tool serves up a platter of statistics on health conditions during pregnancy, birth outcomes, substance use, postpartum experiences, and general pregnancy experiences. Lacy Fehrenbach, Chief of Prevention, Safety, and Health, emphasized the importance of this resource in providing Washingtonians with key insights, "The Perinatal Dashboard allows us to share information directly with Washingtonians about trends we’re seeing in pregnancy and birth outcomes among communities across the state," according to a statement obtained by the Department of Health.
Data for this comprehensive tool is sourced from birth certificates and the state's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, and is designed to clearly lay out, for anyone to access and analyze, patterns and trends in perinatal health. Officials at the Department of Health believe this initiative will be instrumental in tailoring services to better meet the unique needs of families in Washington. Moreover, the breakdown by age, race/ethnicity, Medicaid status, and geography seeks to shed light on disparities and differences in maternal and child health indicators that can influence future policy.
But that's not the full extent of Washington's commitment to its families. The Perinatal Dashboard complements a suite of existing programs, including Watch Me Grow Washington, which sends health and safety material to parents and caregivers of children up to 6 years old, and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program. These initiatives are part of a larger tapestry detailed on the 'You and Your Family' section of the DOH's website, aimed at bolstering family health statewide.
The DOH is striving to continuously provide resources that support healthier, more equitable outcomes for both parents and children. To ensure that their message and services spread far and wide, they're engaging the public through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and the X social network, while also encouraging people to follow their DOH blog, Public Health Connection. For those looking to get their hands on the data or learn more about the state's effort, the new Perinatal Dashboard can be found by visiting the Department of Health's official announcement.
