October 28, 2021 | Healthy Development: Oregon’s Expanded Strategy for Kindergarten Readiness

October 15, 2021November 1, 2021 Ross

Oregon leads the nation in developing a strategy to engage the health sector in kindergarten readiness. In 2018, a four-part measurement strategy was developed by the Health Aspects of Kindergarten Readiness Workgroup. Its first two metrics—measuring well-child visits and preventive dental visits—were included in the 2020 CCO Incentive Measure Set. Next year, CCOs will begin collaborating with community stakeholders on a four-part system-level social and emotional health metric that involves data review, asset mapping, community engagement, and action planning. These efforts will drive behavior changes within the health care system, quality improvement and cross-sector investments to better prepare children in Oregon for kindergarten. Our panelists will discuss the measure’s development and key components of CCO engagement in 2022. They will also describe the strong foundations for this work that are already underway in many communities, and how centering equity, diversity and inclusion will ensure the measure benefits all of Oregon’s children.

Moderator:

Susan Fischer-Maki, M.Ed.
Director, Community Benefit Initiatives, AllCare Health

Susan Fischer-Maki, M.Ed. serves as the Director of Community Benefit Initiatives at AllCare Health, a Coordinated Care Organization serving Jackson, Josephine, Curry and Douglas Counties. She joined the AllCare team in 2014, after facilitating the Southern Oregon region’s successful application to become contracted as an Early Learning Hub under the Oregon Department of Education’s Early Learning Division. Her role is dedicated to building a strong social care network with an emphasis on bridging the work of healthcare transformation with the invaluable talents and skills of community partners serving the children and their caregivers. Susan’s work as an educator at the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Community College level has provided her with a unique view of the Cradle-to-Career spectrum. Adding to this systems view, her work as a home visitor and a small business owner allows her to act as a translator between these critical sectors. She was a member of OHA’s Health Aspects of Kindergarten Readiness Technical Workgroup. Susan lives in Grants Pass with her husband, Jason, and their two children.

Contact Susan Fischer-Maki at susan.fischer-maki@allcarehealth.com.

Panelists:

Colleen Reuland, MS (she/her/hers)
Director, Oregon Pediatric Improvement Partnership

Colleen Reuland is the Director of the Oregon Pediatric Improvement Partnership (OPIP), and an Instructor in the Pediatrics Department at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). She leads a number of quality measurement and improvement projects focused on improving health and health outcomes for children and youth. Colleen is committed to supporting community and population-based efforts that aim to have a collective impact. She has significant experience working with State Medicaid/CHIP programs, front-line pediatric providers, and community-based organizations on quality measurement and improvement activities, and has specific expertise and commitment to ensuring these measurement and improvement efforts have a patient-centered focus and that methods are used to engage and partner with patients. Colleen is also the measure steward contact for the CHIPRA measure focused on developmental screening, Health Aspects of Kindergarten Readiness- System Level Social Emotional Metric, and serves as an expert reviewer for The Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. Previous to her position at OPIP, Colleen was a Senior Research Associate with the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (CAHMI) for fourteen years. She has a Masters in Science focused on Clinical Evaluative Sciences from Dartmouth College Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Colleen is married and the proud mother of three children and two dogs.

Contact Colleen Reuland at reulandc@ohsu.edu.

Peg King, MPH, MA (she/her/hers)
Portfolio Manager for Children, Youth and Families at Health Share of Oregon

Peg King is the Portfolio Manager for Children, Youth and Families at Health Share of Oregon, where she has worked for six years. Previously, Peg worked at the Oregon Pediatric Society managing statewide trainings for pediatric providers. In addition, she has worked in a wide variety of fields including public health, higher education, research, philanthropy and freelance writing. Peg has degrees in English, African History, and Public Health from Duke, Yale and Portland State. She spent four years overseas, first as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, and later working in Tanzania and Taiwan.

Contact Peg King at kingp@healthshareoregon.org.

Karen Ayers
Program and Partnership Manager, Oregon Child Development Coalition

Karen has over 35 years of experience in Head Start, Early Intervention, and Early Care and Education including 20.5 years of experience in management and 16.5 years at OCDC. She provides oversight and leadership in the following Head Start service areas: Early Childhood Education, Mental Health and Inclusion, Family Services and Health as well as OCDC Partnership programs. Karen uses her background in Public Health Nursing to support and facilitate public health and population-based practices. She is a leader within Oregon in the oral health arena and represents best practices at the national level. Karen oversees a team of specialists that have oversight of system development and outreach to enhance practices and to meet local, state and federal compliance for Education, Inclusions, Mental Health, Family and Health Services available to OCDC families and children. She works in partnerships to create and expand resources to staff, children and families within Oregon’s communities.

Contact Karen Ayers at karen.ayers@ocdc.net.