Understanding the grief trajectories of young women with cancer will help nurses to develop screening tools and supportive interventions.

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Purpose: Current evidence-based research suggests that early evaluation, comprehensive care plans, and appropriate referrals for childhood and adolescent behavioral and development needs is critical for successful family-centered outcomes. The overall purpose of this study was to conduct an assessment of a state public health program that offers diagnostic evaluation and coordination for children with behavioral and developmental disorders in the state of Virginia (Child Development Center programs, or CDC). A secondary purpose was to provide translational policy and advocacy targets based on key findings. Design and method: The evaluation of the scope of services of the CDC programs was done using qualitative interviews with a focus group interview (n = 23), interviews from representatives from individual centers (n = 5 centers), and descriptive quantitative data elements for the fiscal year 2015. Results: After conducting the state public health evaluation, several translational health policy priorities emerged, including: (a) the need for integrated data standards, (b) Lack of developmental pediatric workforce, particularly in rural sectors of the state, and (c) Need for enhanced program support for care coordination. Conclusion: Academic nurse and public health partnerships can aid in translation from research to policy among vulnerable populations and assist in communication to key stakeholders and legislators for iterative action and reassessment. K E Y W O R D S developmental pediatrics, evidence-based advocacy, public health evaluation, translational health policy J Spec Pediatr Nurs. 2019;24:e12240.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jspnWhat is currently known: Current evidence-based research suggests that early evaluation, comprehensive care plans, and making appropriate referrals for childhood and adolescent development needs is critical for successful family-centered outcomes. Despite the existing evidence, there is still a substantial gap in implementing evidence-based pediatric developmental practices due to limited resources and constrained public health infrastructure.What does this study add? This public health evaluation identified a need for integrated data standards, a lack of developmental pediatric workforce across the state, particularly in rural sectors, and a need for enhanced program support for care coordination for children with special health care needs.

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