Heather Smith, Child Health Director at the National Academy for State Health Policy. Ms. Smith oversees the portfolio of state policy analysis designed to improve population health, particularly for children and families, including children with special health care needs. She leads research and provides technical assistance to states with a focus on Medicaid payment, care delivery, and performance measurement strategies to promote access to integrated and coordinated care for at-risk children and families. In this role, she serves as the project manager for technical assistance provided to award recipients of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center’s Integrated Care for Kids (InCK) model. Prior to joining NASHP in 2022, Heather worked in Kansas state government for 13 years overseeing core public health programs such as newborn screening, birth defects surveillance, children with special health care needs (CSHCN), and early intervention services. She also served in various leadership positions within the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services program, including as the Title V CSHCN Director for nearly a decade. During her state tenure, Heather established a robust focus on family and consumer partnership and provided leadership in strategic planning and alignment and Title V service delivery for this population. Heather holds a master’s degree in public health from Missouri State University.