California law requires Family Home Day Care Providers (FHDCPs) to keep immunization records of children below kindergarten age who are attending day care. This presentation will discuss a local health department's unique partnership with FHDCPs to increase immunization rates of children aged two and under attending day care. The health department conducted immunization trainings with FHDCPs from June 1998 to June 1999 to increase immunization rates of 500 children age 2 and under attending family home day care in the city by 10%. The trainings consisted of reviewing immunization schedules and assessing and maintaining records with an emphasis in complying with the State's law. Community outreach workers then conducted home site visits of FHDCPs, which consisted of obtaining immunization records of all children attending day care. A follow-up review of immunization records was conducted and postcards were sent on a monthly basis to parents and FHDCPs of children two and under who were missing immunizations. Forty-six providers were seen with a total of 303 children, of those 177 were two and under. A random sample of immunization records of children two and under yielded that forty-two percent were up-to-date with their immunizations at the first outreach visit. Sixty percent of children two and under were up-to-date with their immunizations after the second outreach visit. Providing outreach through home site visits to FHDCPs increased immunization rates of children two and under attending family home day care. The evaluation of this program and lessons learned will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Discuss the methods used to increase immunization coverage levels. 2. Recognize the importance of conducting outreach via home site visits. 3. Describe the public health benefit of agencies working in collaboration to increase immunization coverage levels
Keywords: Partnerships, Outreach Programs
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.