226082 Exploring Program Quality Factors that Impact Child Health Services in Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Marco Beltran, MPH , Health Education Branch, Office of Communications and Health Education, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, MD
Karen A. McDonnell, PhD , Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University SPHHS, Washington, DC
Studies have shown that the dental and overall health status of migrant farmworker children is significantly worse than the national average and represents a public health disparity in need of attention. The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate whether children in Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) programs have received dental and medical services, and 2) to examine the programmatic factors that impact child health service outcomes (i.e. having health insurance, a medical and dental home, and immunizations). Methods: Previously conducted surveys of all MSHS directors were analyzed using SPSS. Qualitative interviews were also done with health services coordinators in a subset of both high and low performing MSHS sites. Notes were coded and thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Survey results showed that significant numbers of children did not receive mandated dental and medical services and that variables such as language spoken by staff and age of children are statistically related to health services outcomes. Interview results suggest that staff language skills and the ability to work with children of varying ages, community collaborations, and having a seasoned health service coordinator are related to program performance. Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that MSHS programs could increase the number of children receiving health services by having staff who are fluent in languages spoken by MSHS children and families and trained to work with children of varying ages, establishing community collaborations, and working to retain health service coordinators.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Program planning
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the characteristics of Migrant and Seasonal Head Start children 2. Compare Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs 3. Discuss the study results related to quality indicators in Migrant and Seasonal Head Start prorgrams

Keywords: Head Start, Latino

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I conducted the study that I will be presenting and also I have managed national programs that provided training and technical assistance to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.