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First Steps Database

Description: The First Steps Database (FSDB) was designed to evaluate and monitor programs and services for low income and other high risk women and children in Washington State. The First-Steps Database links vital statistics, Medicaid claims eligibility data, the Treatment and Report Generation Tool (TARGET), which is the management information system used by the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and the Case and Management Information System (CAMIS) files, which are maintained by Children's Administration of DSHS. The FSDB matches birth and death certificate information provided by the Department of Health – Center for Health Statistics with the eligibility history and claims files from the Office of Financial Management and Health and Recovery Services Administration.

The goal of the First Steps program, authorized by the Maternity Care Access Act of 1989, was to provide, "maternity care necessary to ensure healthy birth outcomes for low-income families." The legislation called for removal of unnecessary barriers to receiving prenatal care and provided for increased access to care and expanded Medicaid services for low-income pregnant women. The First Steps Program has served low-income pregnant women in Washington state since 1989, and by the end of 2006 more than 370,000 women had received services through this program. See the First Steps Program website for more information.

The FSDB was created and is maintained by Research and Data Analysis, DSHS, and is currently updated to include births from mid-1988 through 2006.

Reports:

• CSO Profiles: Maternal Characteristics and Birth Outcomes for Community Services Offices, 1991 to 2004 (9.86)

• Group Services for Pregnant and Parenting Women: An Exploratory Study, 2006 (9.84)

• CSO Profiles: Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics For Community Services Offices, 1991 to 2002, 2005 (9.77)

• County Profiles: Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics, 2004 (9.70)

• County Profiles, Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics 1990 to 2006 (9.91)

• Safe Babies, Safe Moms, Program Evaluation, 2003 (4.36e)

• Comprehensive Program Evaluation Project: Program Development and Implementation, 2001 (4.36f)

• County Profiles: Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics, 2001 (9.59)

• CSO Profiles: Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics for Community Services Offices, 1990 to 1997, 2000. (9.56)

• Comprehensive Program Evaluation Project: Program Evaluation Preliminary Report, 2000 (4.36a)

• Family Planning in Washington State Community Services Offices: Challenges and Strategies, 1999 (9.57b)

• A Comprehensive Program for Alcohol and Drug Abusing Mothers and Their Young Children: Response to RCW 13.34.803, 1998 (7.98)

• County Profiles: Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics, 1998 (7.96)

• County Profiles, Birth and Unintended Pregnancy Statistics, 1997 (9.58)

• Planned Home Births: Outcomes Among Medicaid Women in Washington State, 1996 (7.93)

• First Steps PLUS: Yakima First Steps Mobilization Project for Pregnant Substance Abusers, 1995 (7.71a)

• The First Steps Expansion Group. A Study of Women Newly Eligible for Medicaid through Expanded Eligibility,1992 (7.67a)  Hardcopy only.

• Maternity Care Access Study: Washington State First Steps Project, 1991 (7.68a)  Hardcopy only.

Fact Sheets:

• The First Steps Program 1989-2004, 2006 (9.82)

• Infant Mortality and SIDS, 2006 (9.81)

• Obesity and Pregnancy, 2005 (9.78)

• Safe Babies, Safe Moms, 2004 (4.36f)

• Safe Babies, Safe Moms, 2003 (4.36d)

• First Steps, Family Planning, and the Changing Economy, 2003 (9.66)

• Infant Mortality and SIDS, 2002 (9.62)

• Comprehensive Program Evaluation Project: Safe Babies, Safe Moms, 2002 (4.36c)            

• Birth Rates After Welfare Reform, 2001 (9.61)

• Postpartum Family Planning Services, 2001 (9.60)

• Family Planning at Community Service Offices, 1999 (9.57)

• First Steps Program: 1989-1997, 1999 (7.99)

• Unintended Pregnancy, 1997 (9.55)

• Family Planning, 1995 (7.92)

• Substance Abuse, Treatment, and Birth Outcomes for Pregnant and Postpartum Women, 1995 (4.26)

• Substance Abuse in Pregnancy, 1993 (7.90)

• Undocumented Pregnant Women II, 1992 (7.89)

• Specialty of Prenatal Care Providers II, 1992 (7.88)

• Specialty of Prenatal Care Providers, 1991 (7.87)

• Undocumented Pregnant Women, 1991 (7.85)

Contact: Laurie Cawthon, telephone: (360)902-0712

For more ways to get in touch with the Department of Social and Health Services, go to the DSHS Contact Information Web page. Technical Site Comments: DSHS Webmaster. Copyright 2004 Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.