The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of The 2Care for Moms Program, a Project of the Coalition of Health Services Inc. The Coalition of Health Services is a partnership of 20 hospitals serving 26 counties of the Texas panhandle. The coalition was formed as a coordinated effort to determine needs and deliver MCH services to women and children of the panhandle. The goal of The 2Care For Moms Program, funded by The Texas Department of Health (Title V), was to increase to 90% the number of women entering prenatal care in the first trimester, thus achieving the Healthy People 2000 objective. Activities to achieve this goal included the formation of extensive partnerships with MCH care providers and interested nonproviders; an intensive media campaign aimed at the general population and care providers; and an incentive program to encourage early and regular prenatal care, as well as utilization of existing education resources during the prenatal period. In December of 1999, a new partnership was formed with The Division of Nursing of West Texas A&M University to collaborate in a comprehensive evaluation of the program, now in its 4th year. In addition to quantitative analysis of existing data, a qualitative study is under way using focus group methodology to examine the effectiveness of the partnerships, media campaign, and incentive program. Focus groups of women participating in the program, provider partners, and nonprovider partners will be conducted. Data collection and analysis will be completed by May 2000.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation the participant will be able to: 1. Describe the development,operation, and efficacy of the 2Care for Moms Program. 2. Develop similar community partnerships. 3. Use focus group methodology in program evaluation
Keywords: Access and Services, Community-Based Partnership
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.