Understanding the Social & Emotional Development of Children

September 7, 2018

Join us for this 5-part series on the emotional and social development of children, geared towards child caregivers and professionals. Childcare and meals will be provided at no cost, though there is a $5 admission fee per person. This fee covers all five sessions. The dates are: 9/11/18 9/18/18 9/25/18 10/2/18 10/9/18 Five topics will… Read More

2018 Annual Sickle Cell Symposium

September 7, 2018

The 2018 Annual Sickle Cell Symposium is fast approaching! On Tuesday, September 18th, we’ll come together with Future Builders Inc, Arkansas Black Nurses Association and the UAMS Adult Sickle Cell Clinical Program to offer an evening of both patient and professional speakers. This event provides 2.5 hours of free CE and free food, and is geared… Read More

Heartland Early Intervention Providers Webinar

February 27, 2018

Thank you for attending the Inaugural Heartland Training for Early Intervention Providers on January 18, 2018. It’s been a busy month since we last saw you, and I’m finally looping back, specifically, about interest in participating in the project.  Participation would include: continuing to learn and build relationships within your state and across the region sharing… Read More

Access to Genetics Education and Services

September 9, 2016

Download Brochure Lori Williamson Dean, MS, CGC Assistant Professor and Chair Department of Genetic Counseling College of Health Professions and Program Manager Heartland Genetics Services Collaborative University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Ms. Dean is a 1991 graduate of the Michigan Genetic Counseling Program who currently serves as the Department Chairman and Program Director for… Read More

NDDoH Screening for SCID

July 5, 2016

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) is pleased to announce that July 1 marked an important step in saving the lives of babies born in North Dakota. The state newborn screening program expanded their newborn screening panel to include a disorder called Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID). SCID, also known as… Read More

Care Coordination Exemplary Practices Report

April 20, 2016

Coordinating Care for Children with Genetic Disorders: Sharing Exemplary Practices from Primary Care and Specialty Care Providers report is now available! Please share the report (linked above) with your networks. The report is hosted on the NCC Care Coordination Workgroup Products page (here). On the landing page is the report itself as well as the… Read More

Let Your Voice Be Heard! Developing Models for Addressing Genetics Services in the United States Webinar

February 19, 2016

The Heartland Genetics Collaborative and the National Coordinating Center for the Regional Genetic Service Collaboratives (NCC) invites you to comment on proposed models for genetics services to address the current barriers and issues in the genetic service system. In the fall of 2015, two national surveys were conducted that asked providers and consumers to identify… Read More

Announcement: Small Project Awards!

February 17, 2016

Dear Heartland colleagues, We are pleased to announce another “rapid round” of small project awards.   We will fund 3 awards for up to $5,000 (direct costs) per award.  The work must be completed by May 31, 2016.  Please see instructions below. Provide a brief description of the project and a budget request.  Please submit the… Read More

Congratulations to the Three Heartland States Chosen to Receive Funding That will Save Babies’ Lives

February 17, 2016

Twenty states chosen to receive funding that will save babies’ lives Improvements in the timely reporting of newborn screening results can lead to early treatment  AURORA, Colo. (Feb. 9, 2016) – The ‘NewSTEPs 360’ program, a collaboration between the Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), has selected 20… Read More

Talking with Your Doctor Postcards

January 12, 2016

This “Talking with Your Doctor” postcard is a product of the Heartland Transition Project led by Dr. Wendy and Richard Parent-Johnson.  If you would like some copies, please contact our project coordinator at anayeli@uams.edu.

Regarding Your Child with Special Health Care Needs

October 23, 2015

Dear colleagues and partners, The Heartland Genetics Services Collaborative aims to improve policy makers’ understanding about the health insurance needs of people with special health care needs. However, we need families in the Heartland Region to share their voice via a brief survey. The survey will ask questions about health insurance coverage for children with… Read More

Genetics Provider Survey – Spend 15 minutes to Help Shape the Future of Genetics

September 18, 2015

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), as the National Coordinating Center (NCC) for the seven federally-funded Regional Genetic Service Collaboratives (RCs), is collecting information to inform the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) development of innovative models of support centers for regional genetic and genomic services and resources that would be useful… Read More

Remembering Dr. Alan Kenien

August 12, 2015

Friends and Colleagues across the Heartland, Our hearts are with our colleagues in North Dakota and the state newborn screening program as they mourn and remember our friend and colleague, Dr. Alan Kenien.  He was a dedicated physician who touched many people’s lives.  Many of you probably met Dr. Kenien and know that he will… Read More

Nebraska’s 2014 Annual Report

June 10, 2015

“In 2014, newborn screening for 29 conditions resulted in successfully identifying and treating 60 newborns in Nebraska affected with conditions in time to prevent or reduce problems associated with them.”  Read the full report.

A Dialogue: Addressing and Paying for Genetic Services in Integrated Delivery Systems

May 15, 2015

You are invited to attend a national dialogue to address access and payment for genetic and genomic healthcare in integrated delivery systems. The meeting will bring together genetics and primary care healthcare providers, consumers, legislators, federal partners, insurers, payers, and public health to discuss genetic/genomic services needed, barriers to accessing those services, and solutions in… Read More

The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2014

April 2, 2015

On December 18, 2014 the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2014  was signed into law. The bill addresses research uses of newborn dried blood spots. Here is the final recommendation from the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Human Research Protections (SACHRP) on The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2014, which went into effect… Read More

Genes In Life

March 12, 2015

Looking for an educational website on genetics?  Check out Genes in Life! It is a place to learn about all the ways genetics is a part of your life.  On this site you will learn how genetics affects you and your family, why you should talk to your healthcare providers about genetics, how to get… Read More

DACHDNC February 12-13, 2015

March 11, 2015

The presentations for the Discretionary Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (DACHDNC) February 2015 meeting are now available. Day 1 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force – Overview and the transfer of newborn screening topics to the DACHDNC Iris R. Mabry-Hernandez, MD, MPH Medical Officer U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Program Center for… Read More

Remembering Fred Schaefer, Ph.D.

March 4, 2015

Friends and Colleagues across the Heartland, Our hearts are with our colleagues in Oklahoma and at the St. Francis Genetics Lab as they mourn and remember our friend and colleague, Fred Schaefer, Ph.D.  Please click the link below to see the obituary. https://www.tulsafuneral.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=418227#/obituaryInfo With respect and sympathy, Heartland Coordinating Center Staff

The Role of the Geneticist in the Medical Home

February 20, 2015

Although much has been published about the patient-centered medical home, the role of the medical geneticist within this model of care has not been delineated in the literature.  After reviewing the literature, debating practice models, and communicating with colleagues in primary care as well as geneticists across the Heartland region, the ad hoc Heartland Medical… Read More

Remembering Warren Sanger, Ph.D.

February 6, 2015

Friends and Colleagues across the Heartland, It deeply saddens me to inform you that our friend and colleague, Dr. Warren Sanger, passed away unexpectedly yesterday.  This is a huge loss for so many.  Please keep his family and his colleagues at UNMC in your heart. The link below provides information about the services. https://www.unmc.edu/news.cfm?match=16464&pk_campaign=email&pk_kwd=Remembering_Warren_Sanger_PhD You… Read More

Happy Holidays!

December 18, 2014

Dear Colleagues, Partners, and Advocates: It has been a pleasure working with all of you this past year.  We wish all of you a wonderful Holiday Season filled with joy, love, and peace!  We look forward to continue working with you in the coming year! Warmest regards, The Heartland Team