The Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness-Babies Can’t Wait Program (BCW) provides early intervention services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays and their families. The collaboration between families and professionals makes the Babies Can’t Wait program very unique. The program is based on the following collaborative concepts:
¨Public/private partnership ¨Community resources ¨Efficient and effective utilization of resources
The Latino population in Fulton County has increased from 13,000 in 1990 to 23,000 in 1999. To service families in this population the BCW program has successfully partnered with the following community agencies:The Latin American Association, and Dia De La Mujer Latina Inc.
(1)The Latin American Association opened its doors enabling the BCW Program to host the first early intervention parent/provider conference for the Latino population. The association was instrumental in energizing in- kind contributions and community resources to successfully bring together a public service with community partnerships.
(2)Dia De La Mujer Latina Inc. sponsors an annual health fair focusing on women and family health. BCW is one of many organizations that contributed with planning,and provision of services.Services included dissemination of child developmental information and on site screening for possible developmental delays. As a result, infants and toddlers have been identified in need of early intervention services and other related services.
These collaborative efforts have allowed the program to: ¨ Identify more families in need of services ¨Increase number of bilingual providers ¨Continue to develop strategies for public/private partnerships
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: , Latino Caucus
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness- Babies Can't Wait Program
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.