Longitudinal Follow-up for Newborn Screening 

What is Longitudinal Follow-up?

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Longitudinal Follow-up program collaborates with families, healthcare providers, educators, local public health nurses, community organizations and others to develop and maintain a systems based approach to understand and promote health and well-being after children are confirmed to have a condition included in Minnesota Newborn Screening. 

What are the goals of Longitudinal Follow-up? 

• Ensure information, services, and supports for families are accessible, timely, and effective.
• Advance understanding of outcomes for children with conditions included in Minnesota Newborn Screening through the collection, integration, and evaluation of key data.
• Evaluate and build newborn screening system capacity and promote equitable access to interventions.

How are families connected to information and resources? 

• MDH sends information and resources after their child is confirmed to have a condition included in Minnesota Newborn Screening.  
• MDH refers children to family supports, including Minnesota local public health. A local Public Health Nurse (PHN) then attempts to connect with the family to assess and share additional information and resources of interest.  
• Topics and resources that may be discussed include, but are not limited to: financial assistance, medical insurance, transportation, housing, food and nutrition, and childcare.  
• Longitudinal Follow-up activities are offered at no cost to families. Families may choose to decline participation at any time.