Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117042

Deborah L. Kaplan, RPA, MPH¹, Sandra True, RN, MPH¹, and Rachael Pine, JD². (1) Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health Program, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2 Lafayette Street, 18th floor, New York, NY 10007, (212) 442-1776, dkaplan@health.nyc.gov, (2) Fund for Public Health in New York, Inc., 93 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013

Across the country, health departments struggle with decreased funding while attempting to implement and sustain evidence-based programs. Health department strategies must be innovative in meeting the challenge. In 2003, following a major re-organization, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health (BMIRH), established a demonstration site for the evidence-based nurse home visiting program, Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP). The role of DOHMH was to establish a demonstration site, replicate through community-based agencies, provide coordination, training and technical assistance and secure funds for program expansion. With a long-term goal to disseminate the NFP citywide, the initial stage of implementation was program start-up and demonstration with redirected public funds. The premise was to leverage public seed funds and the credibility of the local health institution to obtain additional public and private support. There are four major components to the DOHMH strategy. First, channel funds through the Fund for Public Health New York, a 501c3, created to expedite and enhance funding for DOHMH public health initiatives, and to attract private funders that do not generally fund government agencies. Second, develop relationships with the private sector and secure funds for immediate expansion. Third, simultaneously partner with other governmental agencies to seek public funds, leveraging collaborative efforts and the benefit of the NFP to these agencies. And, lastly, decreasing and possibly phasing out the private funding by using the public-private partnerships and the National NFP to secure stable funding through Medicaid reimbursement and other public sources.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Articulate possible strategies to sustain evidence-based home visiting programs.
• 2.Describe the role a local health department can play in implementation and dissemination of evidence-based programs.

Keywords: Home Visiting, Maternal and Child Health

Related Web page: www.nyc.gov/health/maternity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.