The Public Health Informatics Institute launched the Connections Community of Practice to facilitate peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and problem solving between health departments and their stakeholders. Participants in Connections share a goal of creating integrated child health information systems. 

Connections seeks to increase the adoption and use of integrated health information systems to improve health outcomes for children. Participants share their strategies, best practices, and lessons learned while collaborating on issues specific to integration of early child health information systems, including newborn hearing screening, newborn dried blood spot screening, vital records, immunization registries, and lead screening programs.

Communities of practice are an effective way to accelerate learning and practice by harnessing the knowledge of the workforce, synthesizing this knowledge, and creating knowledge artifacts that can be shared with a broader audience. In this project, we apply our knowledge of building collaborative workgroups, as well as our expertise as a neutral convener.

Connections members invite other local and state public health departments and other stakeholders to join the Community of Practice.  Find out more about joining Connections.

Connections is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA/MCHB).