Birth Defects Program

Mission

To identify newborns with birth defects; ensure that these children receive appropriate preventive, specialty and other health care services; and monitor trends.

What We Do

Pursuant to a legilative mandate in 2003, we developed and implemented a birth defects reporting, surveillance, and information system to describe the occurrence of birth defects in children up to age five; detect trends of morbidity and mortality; and help make sure children with birth defects receive services and treatment on a timely basis.

The Birth Defects Surveillance Advisory Committee appointed by the Director of Health advises us on the system and recommends the list of birth defects to be reported. It is critical that state agencies, health care services providers, community organizations, parents and other key stakeholders, provide input, not only for the development of the surveillance system, but also for issues regarding information dissemination and analyses.

Cases of birth defects are identified through multiple sources, including hospital and specialty clinic data. The Birth Defects Program is currently working with primary care physicians, visiting nurse agencies, and other providers to ensure outreach and follow-up for children with birth defects.