State-Based Tracking Systems
New Hampshire

Program: New Hampshire Birth Conditions Program (NHBCP)
Organization: Trustees of Dartmouth College (agent of the N.H. Dept. of Health and Human Services)
Project Period: February 2010–January 2015
Project Director: John Moeschler, MD, MS
Website: http://www.nhbcp.org

The New Hampshire Birth Conditions Program (NHBCP) was created in 2003. The program collects information from multiple sources to track birth defects in children up to two years of age. The program monitors about 13,000 births per year in the state. The program works to enhance its population-based tracking system and guide prevention and referral services for children requiring access to medical services due to birth defects and related disability.

NHBCP is also spearheading a joint effort with regional states to develop the New England Birth Defects Consortium. This Disseminate data to partners and the general public consortium will serve as a tool for sharing birth defects information and providing technical support services among member states.

 

Grantee Goals and Activities

Surveillance

• Monitor birth defects conditions using active case-finding methods.
• Develop data sharing agreements with other state birth defects programs so that babies born to residents of New Hampshire that deliver in other states can be included.
• Explore regional and geographical factors that might affect birth defects.

Prevention

• Enhance folic acid education efforts through partnership with family support organizations.
• Use tracking data for targeted prevention of neural tube defects.

Referrals

• Collaborate with health care providers and family support groups to develop early intervention activities.
• Evaluate referral activities to improve early identification of children with special needs.