Perinatal and Infant Health Advisory Committee

Description:

The Perinatal and Infant Health Advisory Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations to the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Health regarding improving perinatal health and assuring access to quality perinatal health services.

The committee shall:

1. Gather and disseminate information about perinatal and infant health indicators to increase the public's understanding of the status of perinatal and infant health in the District.
2. Review newborn screening and surveillance data, including aggregate reports and individual case studies, and provide recommendations to improve the quality of newborn screening and birthing facility maternal and newborn discharge protocols;
3. Provide recommendations for hospitals and birthing facilities to improve metrics on the report cards issued by the Department under § 7-858.03(c);
4. Evaluate the need for and efficacy of all newborn screening tests and recommend the removal or addition of screening tests, as appropriate;
5. Devise strategies to increase promotion and support of breastfeeding;
6. Review perinatal and infant health policies and programs for the purpose of providing recommendations to improve their effectiveness in improving the health of mothers and infants;
7. Convene sub-committees for specialty areas of perinatal and newborn health, such as metabolic disorders, to inform and provide recommendations to the full committee as needed; and
8. Provide an annual report to the Mayor and Council of its legislative, regulatory, programmatic, and policy recommendations.

Commission Membership:

The committee is composed of 11 voting members, including 3 agency designees and the following 8 public members:

1. Two consumer members with children under the age of 5 years;
2. A doctor practicing as a pediatric primary care provider;
3. A doctor practicing as a neonatologist;
4. A doctor practicing as an obstetrician-gynecologist in an ambulatory setting;
5. A doctor specialized in and practicing maternal-fetal medicine;
6. A health care professional specialized in and practicing genetics and newborn screening; and
7. A certified lactation counselor.

Qualifications for Appointment:

Each voting member shall have expertise in at least one of the following areas: pediatric primary care, neonatology, obstetrician-gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, genetics, and lactation. All medical doctor seats must be actively practicing. Consumer members must have children under the age of 5. 

Time Commitment:

The committee shall meet quarterly, at a time and place determined by the chairperson.

If you are interested in an appointment to this board, please complete the appointment application. A member of our team will contact you to discuss the opportunity.