State-Based Tracking Systems
Kentucky

Program: Kentucky Birth Surveillance Registry (KBSR)
Organization: Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Project Period: February 2010–January 2015
Project Director: Sandy Fawbush
Website: http://chfs.ky.gov/dph/mch/ecd/kbsr.htm

The Kentucky Birth Surveillance Registry (KBSR) was created in 1996 as a statewide system to collect data on birth outcomes. KBSR monitors about 55,000 births per year. It collects data from multiple sources to track children from birth to five years of age affected by birth defects or disability and uses the data to guide its prevention and referral activities.

 

Grantee Goals and Activities

Surveillance

• Use multiple data sources to track babies born with birth defects.
• Expand birth defects reporting sources to laboratories and genetic centers in an effort to broaden statewide tracking and find cases that might otherwise be missed.
• Ensure quality of data from hospitals and other available reporting sources.
• Disseminate summary reports on birth defects data to the public, health providers, and research interest groups.

Prevention

• Reduce the rate of neural tube defects through folic acid promotion.
• Partner with Substance Abuse agencies to provide local health departments with information on birth outcomes following substance abuse in pregnancy.

Referrals

• Implement referral process for families and children with birth defects to early intervention services.
• Evaluate effectiveness of referral activities as well as outcomes of families referred for services.