The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

5119.0: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 12:45 PM

Abstract #49816

Denver's Best Babies Initiative --- Lessons Learned --- Bringing a variety of Home Visitation models to scale --- the program and evaluation

Lucy W. Loomis, MD, MSPH, Community Health Services, Division of Family Practice, Denver Health, 660 Bannock St, Denver, CO 80204, 303-436-6471, lloomis@dhha.org and Sharon Hartman, MA, Community Health Services/Best Babies Initiative, Denver Health, 501 28th Street (MC3600), Denver, CO 80205.

Denver's Best Babies Initiative (DBBI) is a comprehensive MCH program created to optimize the cognitive, emotional and physical health and development of young children in Denver, particularly those living in communities of poverty. Additional goals include improving birth outcomes for children born at Denver Health. The program is based within an established safety net health care delivery system, (Denver Health) with support from sources including the City of Denver, the State of Colorado, and private foundations. The core of the DBBI incorporates three home visitation models: Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), Interconception Health Promotion Initiative (IHPI), and Healthy Futures (HF), each targeting different populations of mothers, although grounded in the same theoretical framework of using client-centered, strengths-based intervention strategies. NFP, the nurse home visitation model developed by David Olds, PhD, targets low-income first time mothers. The HF arm, modeled after the NFP and IHPI targets pregnant women who have had a previous child and are at risk for a poor pregnancy outcome. IHPI targets women who have recently delivered a low birth weight infant. Women are enrolled during pregnancy or at delivery and followed through their child’s second birthday. Since the first client was enrolled, 2/17/00, the program has grown to include 13 home visitors and over 219 continuing clients. Information will be presented on predictors of client enrollment and retention, as well as preliminary process outcomes. The challenges and lessons learned of implementing a research model in real life will be discussed, as well as strategies to identify ongoing financial support.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

Keywords: Home Visiting, Maternal Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Denver's Best Babies Initiative a program of Denver Health and Hospital Authority
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.

Impact of Home Visting Programs: Implications for Policy and Practice

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA