APA provides comments to Maternal and Child Health Bureau Strategic Plan

The association shared ways to improve the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Strategic Plan, ensuring that mental health services are better integrated into the bureau’s priorities.

By Sophie Friedl Date created: January 6, 2021 1 min read

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asked for comments on their upcoming Strategic Plan. APA submitted regulatory comments that highlighted a few key areas where the Strategic Plan could be improved.

APA specifically advocated for better integrating mental and behavioral health into MCHB’s programs, increasing coordination across all levels of government as well as MCHB’s non-governmental partners, actively engaging with communities experiencing health disparities, and fully leveraging telehealth technology, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This submission follows comments submitted to MCHB’s “Blueprint for Change: Guiding Principles for Advancing the System of Services for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) and Families.”

For more information, please contact Sophie Friedl.