Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, Inc.: 2005 NCLR Conference Workshop Presentation

and

present

Best Practices – Family Strengthening Programs for Hispanic Communities

An Overview July 2005

Healthy Families DC Healthy Families DC has been preventing child abuse and neglect, and improving health outcomes in Washington, DC for almost 10 years.

This proven-effective program partners HFDC staff with families establishing a trusting, significant relationship that lasts from pregnancy through the child’s enrollment in school.

Healthy Families America • Over 420 sites across the country, Canada and the Philippines. • A national initiative for all new parents to support them in getting their children off to a healthy start.

Healthy Families DC Partners •

Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, Inc. (Lead Agency)

•

Children’s National Medical Center

•

The Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative

•

Greater Southeast Community Hospital

Mary’s Center for Maternal & Child Care, Inc. Mary's Center was established in 1988 with joint funding from the DC Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs and the DC Commission of Public Health to address the demand for Spanishspeaking maternal and pediatric services in the predominately Latino areas of Ward One.

2 year old Peruvian Girl

Today, the Center serves a multicultural population residing in every Ward of the city, with a focus on families who work in jobs where health insurance is not available.

The mission of Mary's Center is to build better futures through health care, education and social services that embrace our culturally diverse community.

1.5 year old Cuban Boy

Healthy Families DC Mission

HFDC’s mission is to partner with families to ensure children are healthy, safe, and ready for school through home visitation, and linkages with community resources.

Population Served • Any family in the District of Columbia.

• Parent is pregnant or has a child under 30 days old.

• Families identified as “overburdened.”

• All services are voluntary.

Healthy Families DC Goals • To systematically assess parents • To promote optimal birth outcomes, child health, child development, and school readiness • To foster positive parenting and enriching parent-child interaction • To promote optimal family functioning and life outcomes • To prevent child abuse and neglect

1.5 year old Nicaragua

Healthy Families Logic Model Program Eligibility

Interventions

Intermediate Outcomes

Screening and Assessment for Risk Factors

Home Visiting

Positive Parenting

at local sites

Parenting Skills

(hospitals, clinics, health department, private providers)

Link to Health Resources Child Development Activities Link to Community Resources

Preventive Health Optimal Child Development

Family Self Sufficiency

Ultimate Outcome

Prevent Child Abuse

Healthy Families DC Research-Based Components HFDC Participant • Honduran Mom • Attending Family Literacy Program

Services must be: • Intensive: Meeting with participating families on a regular basis.

• Comprehensive: Address a range of issues related to parenting and other stressors.

• Long-Term: Over a three-tofive year period.

• Flexible: In response to families’ needs and availability.

• Culturally Appropriate : Understanding and working within a family’s cultural norms.

Healthy Families Program Principles 10 month Guatemalan Girl

 Accountability: • Must meet standards for best practice and service delivery and obtain a Credential every 4 years.  Quality Assurance: • Comprehensive Initial and on-going Training • Technical Assistance provided to sites to ensure ability to implement model  Collaboration: • Partner with outreach and medical providers to identify families • Partner with other community resources to support families’ based upon their needs • Recognize that no one program can do it all!

Healthy Families DC Service Description • Family Assessment to identify appropriate services for families • Voluntary home visiting services prenatally up to the child’s 5th year of life.

•Weekly home visiting

• Child Development Activities • Child Development Screens • Mental Health Counseling in the Home

• Nurse Home Visits – post partum and other as needed • Community Referrals • Case Management • Family Goal Planning

HFDC Outcomes & Comparative Stats Goals

HFDC

DC

Nat’l

Healthy Birthweight (>5.5lbs)

97%

88%

92%

Current Immunizations

97%

68%

78%

Children screened for developmental delay

93%

-

-

No additional births to teens within two years.

97%

68%

79%

Children linked to health care provider/ insurance

98%

83%

89%

No substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect.

99%

63%

88%

BENEFITS • Investing in Prevention saves money – $3500/yr per family in Healthy Families vs. $1224,000/yer in foster care • Increase involvement of parents in the education of their children

2 year old Mexican Boy

• Early identification of Developmental Delays • Second pregnancy prevention • Parents gain independence through increased access to educational resources for themselves • Healthy children ready for school

Challenges • Investment of Public Dollars • Understanding the Importance of Investment

6 month old Dominican Boy

Our Response – Advocacy • DC Council • DC Home Visiting Council • Prevent Child Abuse America

HFDC Graduate Family • Salvadorian Family • No second pregnancy • Both Parents in School

Replication • Committed, communityoriented staff • Stable funding sources • Strong commitment from collaborative agencies

18 month Salvadorian Girl

… also • Implementation of Critical Elements and Best Practice Standards established

by Healthy Families America • Stable funding sources, public and private

HFDC Graduate • Puerto Rican Teen Dad • Active in Baby’s Development • Working on GED

HFDC Graduate • Salvadorian Teen Mom • College Student • Parent Advisory Board Member

•Strong supervisory and management team •Strong partnerships with local agencies and programs for referrals and collaboration of services •Continuous staff development

Thank You to National Council of La Raza Annie E. Casey Foundation NCLR Affiliates