Thursday, December 12, 2024
12/12/2024
Address: Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. 1205 F Avenue Douglas, AZ 85607 Project Director Name: Jeffrey Holzberg, MD, FAAP Contact Phone Numbers: 520-364-5437 ext 3543 (voice) 520-364-4261 (fax) Email: jholzberg@cchci.org Website Address: cchci.org Grant Program Funds Requested: Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program $50,000 a year for five years Problem: Twenty-one percent of children in Cochise County, Arizona, live below the federal poverty threshold and 9% have no health insurance. Only 75.7% of Arizona children ages 0-17 years had a preventive health visit in the prior year. The state’s rates of childhood immunization completion by the age of 3 are only 78%. The infant mortality rate in Cochise County is 6 per 1,000 live births compared to 5 per 1,000 in Arizona. Low birthweight rates are higher in the county, 8% versus the state’s 7%, and vary sharply by race and ethnicity: 8% Asian, 14% Black, 7% Hispanic, and 8% white. Arizona’s 2020 Title V Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment Report further illustrated the challenges faced by children living in the state: 27% have experienced two or more adverse childhood experiences (third worst state in the country); spending per student ranked 48th out of the 50 states; and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 30% of eighth graders tested below basic skill levels. The report cited these challenges: provider shortages, lack of health insurance, low education levels, limited transportation options, varied languages and cultures, and health inequities. Goals and Objectives: The goal is county-wide expansion of First Three’s early childhood programming through: 1. Expansion of early childhood parenting curriculum delivered by pediatric providers during well-child visits. 2. Expansion of breastfeeding coach support at home and in the clinic delivered by lactation-trained community members. 3. Impro ved referral to home visitation programs through an expanded referral system. Objectives will examine the use of prone playtime; referrals for home visiting; number of enrollees in the First Three program; parental knowledge of typical development and appropriate support; breastfeeding duration and lactation consultations; compliance with well-child visit sand immunizations; and developmental screening outcomes. Methodology: First Three is a medical home for families with children aged 0 to 3 years old that is currently offered at the Early Childhood Center of Excellence in Douglas, AZ. With Healthy Tomorrows support the program will be expanded during each grant year to a new pediatric clinic within Cochise County. The First Three curriculum is designed to help families implement best practices for early child development and care, that pave the way for school readiness and success. Through care coordination and case management families receive breastfeeding support, home visitation, specialty referrals, dental care, and literacy promotion as well as routine well-child care and immunizations. The program is rooted in the Bright Futures Guidelines for screenings and health supervision; informed by the Healthy Steps program of enhanced child development support; and was modified to best meet the needs of a rural, racially and ethnically diverse population the majority of whom live below 200% of the federal poverty threshold. Coordination: First Three has collaborative relationships with four home visiting programs as well as support for breastfeeding. The project has the endorsement of the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Arizona Title V office. Evaluation: The program will monitor well-child visit and immunization rates; breastfeeding duration; developmental assessments for speech using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire; and parenting knowledge.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
