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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
M. Jane Magee, BA, Bureau of Family Health, Div. of Community Systems Development and Outreach, PA Department of Health, Rm. 733, Health and Welfare Bldg., P.O. Box 90, Harrisburg, PA 17108, 717-772-2763, mmagee@state.pa.us
During needs assessment activities for its Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, Pennsylvania's Bureau of Family Health learned from the public that a primary need for families was access to information about services. The Bureau has developed a system of Information, Referral and Outreach that enhances access to care for families in all geographic areas of Pennsylvania. By incorporating Community Systems Development, gaps in services are identified and filled by community-led coalitions and creatively funded, thereby leveraging budget allocations. The programs represented in this effort are two help lines, a marketing/outreach program and a statewide community systems development program. The help lines are Healthy Baby/Healthy Kids and Special Kids Network. Through calls from the public to the helplines, referral needs are either satisfied or identified for development. The Community Systems Development component adds that information to its needs assessment activities, establishes community-based coalitions, and supports that coalition in the enhancement or development of services using outside (non-State) funding. The outreach component of this cycle, "Reaching Out," gets the message out, whether the message relates to accessing low- or no-cost insurance, accessing services or building awareness of the availability of services, both from the Department and from its partner agencies and the community. During this presentation, a representative of each program will explain the role of the program in the cycle of services, and a scripted role play will illustrate the process.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Maternal and Child Health, Children With Special Needs
Related Web page: www.health.state.pa.us
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Pennsylvania Department of Health
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.