Conference Abstract Compendium Examples from the ... - CityMatCH

2009 CityMatCH Urban MCH Leadership ConferenceProgram.Families received two or more referrals for services, 80% received follow up intervention. For cases withfollow up, 91% were connected to services, seven percent didn’t receive the service requested, twopercent were pending at end of the project. Also, 98% of families were connected to at least one service.BARRIERSIt took several months and five drafts to establish protocols across the participating organizations whichdelayed the initiation of services, and therefore, it didn’t meet the target of 200 children. However, oncefamilies were identified and recruited, it worked at full capacity and a total of 99 children (51 families)received services from March through October, 2008.LESSONS LEARNEDThere are many difficulties with linking hard-to-reach families and children to needed services in urbancommunities. Based on what was learned during the short period that the project was implemented, theissue is not so much a lack of services, but more one of comprehensive coordination among services. Byproviding families with accurate information on programs and very concrete support that addressesspecific needs, they can be empowered and motivated to access services on their own. Moreover, manyfamilies, including those with limited education, were available and receptive to learning about theirchild’s development, and in fact, took pleasure in completing the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. All ofthis has far-reaching implications (with high benefit to cost) for positively impacting outcomes for asizable population of children that typically do not receive needed services.INFORMATION FOR REPLICATIONFunding was provided by the CT Children's Trust Fund -state agency for this pilot project.The funding covered salaries and fringes of two (2) FTE care coordinators and program supplies.Additional funding for overhead and indirect cost was provided in-kind by the City of Hartford.The CT Child Development Infoline, the CT Children's Trust Fund, the City of Hartford Health andHuman Services Department, and the University of Hartford were the key organizations in the developingand implementation of this project.106