The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48522

Donna J Sumners, MCD, CCC-A and Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge, MD, MPH. Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County Health Department, 311 23rd Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37203, 615-7802535, donna_sumners@mhd.nashville.org

This collaboration between public and private agencies, led by Metro Health Department, provides early screenings for young children six months up to six years of age. The goal of early screenings is early identification and treatment of health and developmental problems so that children are ready for school by age six. Children are screened in the areas of development, dental, behavior, speech/language, hearing and vision. Screenings are conducted at day cares, schools, and community sites. Children are referred for further evaluation, therapy or treatment, and parents are assisted in accessing needed services. Statistics on referrals in areas of Nashville by zip code have revealed pockets of high referral rates in certain areas of the city. Concentrating on these areas enables public health programs such as Dental Health to develop projects specific to needs. Statistics are also shared with Family Resource Centers in Nashville, enabling better understanding of needs in the community. Team work between the EPSDT program, Success By 6 and School Health has led to the ability to offer complete physical examinations, including all Success By 6 screenings, blood tests, and immunizations, at child care facilities and schools. The combined team offers comprehensive assessments utilizing a multi professional approach. Care coordination insures follow-up in recommended areas.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe a collaborative child assessment model which can be applied in various public health settings, including rural and metropolitan communities to provide early identification of health problems, as well as data related to community health.

Keywords: Community Health Assessment, Partnerships

Presenting author's disclosure statement: