Page 12 - Mecklenburg_Medicine_July-August-2018

Member News
Working on Behalf of Kids:
The Mecklenburg County Medical Society Child Health Committee
By Sara Horstmann, MD, Chair
You likely went into medicine for the same reasons I did — to help
people live healthier, happier lives. Although what I do day to day is
fulfilling in its own right, spending time advocating for kids helps me
prevent burnout. On the Child Health Committee, we recognize the
importance of working on behalf of all children in Mecklenburg County.
Here is some information about what we do and why we are doing it.
If you’d like to get involved, even if you don’t care for children in your n ACES and Resilience. As we move toward population health,
practice, you are welcome and encouraged to join us!
n No Missed Days Campaign. We have partnered with the
Mecklenburg County Department of Public Health and Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Schools to help ensure every child entering
kindergarten or seventh grade is up to date with vaccines and
ready to learn on the first day of school. Currently, hundreds of
kids in our county miss multiple days of school due to incomplete
health records. Students are not allowed to attend school until they
are appropriately vaccinated and have their health assessments
completed. We are sending letters to providers encouraging them
to send a letter to their patients reminding them to set up well
checks. We also are reaching out to daycare centers with the
same information. Please consider opening up extra sessions this
IT S NOT JUST ADULTS.
OVER 64% OF YOUTH WITH DEPRESSION DO NOT
RECEIVE ANY MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.
STOP THE TREND.
SECU Youth Crisis Center, a Monarch program, MonarchNC.org
is the first of its kind in North Carolina for ages 6–17. (844) 263-0050
We are currently accepting referrals.
12 | July/August 2018 • Mecklenburg Medicine
summer to meet the need of our CMS students and their families, or
volunteering at the county-wide Big Shots events.
n Transgender Youth. We have partnered with PFLAG Charlotte
to help provide education and resources to all medical providers in
Mecklenburg County on how to help transgender patients. Please read
the article in this issue for more details and contact information.
one major influencer on health outcomes has become apparent:
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and exposure to Toxic
Stress directly impacts health outcomes for children and adults.
Resilience encompasses the protective factors that mitigate the effects
of toxic stress. We have partnered with the Carolinas Collaborative,
Winer Family Foundation and Charlotte AHEC, to engage our entire
community in a discussion on this very important topic. This one-day
symposium (November 16) will focus on the science behind these
effects, as well as provide examples of evidence-based solutions. We will
use this as an opportunity to come up with a path forward in making
Charlotte the most resilient community in North Carolina.
If you would like to learn more, or if you want to get involved, email
sara.horstmann@atriumhealth.org.
Developmental and Behavioral
Services Resource Guide
In 2001, the Child Health Committee, chaired by Jessica Schorr
Saxe, MD, identified a need for physicians to have information on
public and private agency resources serving the needs of children
with developmental and behavioral issues in order to refer patients
and their families. They decided to create a resource guide.
A subcommittee chaired by Andrew Shulstad, MD, oversaw
production of the guide. In 2004 and again in 2007, the guide was
distributed to all pediatricians and family physicians. In 2007, a
web-based version was made available to all physicians and the
public on the MCMS website with the following categories:
n Developmental Assessment and Care
n Autism
n Psychological and Behavioral Concerns and Counseling
n Religion-Affiliated Counseling Services
n Speech and Hearing Services
n Community Advocacy, Support Groups and Schools
n Neurologists
Hard copies are no longer printed, but the guide is still available
online at www.meckmed.org under Community Resources. If
your practice/agency would like to be considered to be added to the
guide, contact Stephanie Smith at ssmith@meckmed.org.