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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Karin Downs, RN, MPH and Beth Buxton-Carter, LCSW. Division of Perinatal, Early Childhood, and Special Health Needs, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5910, beth.buxton-carter@state.ma.us

In FY01, 5,188 of the 80,884 Massachusetts births were identified by their birth certificate as having one or more defined characteristics that placed them at risk for a health or developmental delay. However, they were not eligible for statewide initiatives such as the Healthy Families program, nor did they readily qualify for Early Intervention.

In response, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Early Intervention Partnerships Program (EIPP) was rolled out as a high-risk maternal and newborn screening, assessment and service system. The intended outcome of EIPP is the early identification of maternal and infant risk and linkage to services to prevent or mitigate poor health and/or developmental outcomes. Coordinated by an existing Early Intervention (EI) program, EIPP services pregnant and post partum women in communities with some of the state's highest rates of infant mortality and morbidity.

The EIPP has faced many challenges in its first three years. First, although the MDPH has developed diverse funding streams for the program including federal, state and partner sources, significant state and federal budget cuts have impacted this program. Second, Massachusetts EI providers have had to make a paradigm shift in how they provide services to accommodate the goals of EIPP. A third challenge has been supporting EI Providers to develop relationships with community organizations and health care providers to ensure good collaboration and a source of referrals. Finally, it has been a challenge to build awareness of the EIPP services since it is not a statewide universal program.

Learning Objectives:

• „X Identify at least three challenges in expanding an integrated system of quality care for perinatal and early childhood health that strengthens community-based linkages in Massachusetts.
• „X Identify at least mechanisms for overcoming the challenges in expanding an integrated system of quality care for perinatal and early childhood health that strengthens community-based linkages in Massachusetts.
• „X Apply a renewed enthusiasm for the intrinsic value that collaborations with community based public health providers bring to the field of maternal and child health.

Keywords: Home Visiting, Perinatal Outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation