Official Louisiana State Websites use .la.gov 
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 
For Healthcare and Public Health Professionals
The Louisiana Birth Defects Monitoring Network (LBDMN) is one of several programs in the Bureau of Family Health serving Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN). Under the Louisiana Department of Health's Bureau of Family Health, LBDMN staff conduct public health surveillance of children born with congenital medical conditions.
The Louisiana Birth Defects Monitoring Network assesses the outcomes of more than 62,000 Louisiana births annually. LBDMN works to identify environmental conditions, pharmaceutical side effects, or personal behaviors and actions that increase the risk of birth defects among Louisiana's newborns. By monitoring the health status of all newborns, and monitoring children with congenital medical conditions, LBDMN provides population-based data to help inform policies, educate the public, support the efforts of community partners, and prevent new occurrences.
The risk of having a child born with a congenital disability affects all men and women of reproductive age, not just those families that are directly impacted. For example, monitoring birth defects helps illuminate environmental hazards that could impact the citizens of Louisiana. On a national level, LBDMN supports scientific research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other states and universities.
Data Products
-
LBDMN Data Request Form: Fillable PDF for data seekers to submit for access to surveillance data from our program
-
Partners for Family Health Data Center: Data seekers can download any publicly available surveillance reports produced by the Bureau of Family Health here.
-
LDH Environmental Public Health Tracking: Provides an open data portal and information on health outcomes, the environment, population, and exposures for Louisiana residents.
Recommended Resources and Tools
-
Prevent Birth Defects Educational Flyer, English: Health education flyer written for parents (also available in Spanish: Prevent Birth Defects Educational Flyer, Spanish)
-
National Birth Defects Prevention Network: Organization that addresses the issues of birth defects surveillance, research, and prevention under one umbrella by maintaining a national network of state and population-based birth defects programs
-
Children's Special Health Services program: Our partner program in the Bureau of Family Health. This program works to ensure that children and youth with special health care needs in Louisiana have access to services designed to minimize their disabilities and maximize their ability to live as independently as possible.
-
Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program: Our partner program in the Bureau of Family Health. The Louisiana Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (LA EHDI) program works to ensure all children who are deaf or hard of hearing can effectively communicate and develop the language skills they need to learn, grow and thrive.