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New Jersey Birth Defects Tracking Program

Project Summary

The New Jersey Special Child Health Services (SCHS) Registry is one of the oldest birth defects registries in the nation. It has a statewide surveillance of about 115,000 births and more than 8,000 new registrations annually. This project will improve registration of children with birth defects, monitor possible clusters of birth defects, ensure that children with certain defects receive the services they need, and assess the effectiveness of prevention activities.

Surveillance

• Develop and implement an electronic data system for medical providers to report records to the New Jersey SCHS Registry.
• Redesign and/or develop the registry’s data management system.
• Further develop and improve methods of case identification.
• Expand data analysis and the reporting of surveillance results.
   

• Increase the use of surveillance data to develop prevention activities.
• Provide data and technical assistance to partners to target prevention activities, particularly within the Hispanic community.
• Devise and implement ways to improve early treatment and intervention among children with birth defects.

• Ensure that all children identified by the surveillance system receive all needed medical and other interventions.
• Improve the system of tracking and referral between the New Jersey SCHS Registry and case management units.
• Use the tracking system to evaluate access to health and education services for children identified by the registry.
   

Date: January 03, 2008
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities