Healthy Steps for Young Children: Palm Beach
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Healthy Steps for Young Children (HSFYC) is an enhanced pediatric primary care model that brings families and health care providers together to improve the health, development, and emotional wellness of children, newborn to age three. The model places the Healthy Steps Specialist, a developmental specialist, nurse, or social worker, in a pediatric primary care setting. Services provided by the Healthy Steps Specialist include child development telephone information line, links to community resources, enhanced well-child care visits, child development and family health monitoring, information materials for mothers and fathers that emphasize prevention, parent groups, and home visits.
An added benefit of the program is the significant increase in satisfaction noted by physicians as a result of the support they received in serving low-income children and their families. Nationally, fewer than half of the pediatricians serving children ages newborn to three report using a formal screening tool to assess developmental and behavioral concerns. The program provides screening within the pediatric primary care setting and a proactive empowerment model coaches a family in skills necessary to meeting their child's educational, social, and emotional development needs, often before deficits are noted.
An added benefit of the program is the significant increase in satisfaction noted by physicians as a result of the support they received in serving low-income children and their families. Nationally, fewer than half of the pediatricians serving children ages newborn to three report using a formal screening tool to assess developmental and behavioral concerns. The program provides screening within the pediatric primary care setting and a proactive empowerment model coaches a family in skills necessary to meeting their child's educational, social, and emotional development needs, often before deficits are noted.
Goal / Mission
Improve early identification of concerns and initiate interventions to improve the health, development and emotional wellness of children, newborn to age three.
Impact
HSFYC parents were less likely to use severe discipline (OR: 0.68) and more likely to negotiate with their child (OR: 1.20). HSFYC parents had greater odds of reporting a clinical or borderline concern regarding their child's behavior (OR: 1.35).
Results / Accomplishments
The Johns Hopkins University report, the National Evaluation of Healthy Steps for Young Children, examined results for 3165 families that responded to interviews. The infants and their families were enrolled at birth and followed for 5½ years.
Results of the evaluation (Minkovitz et al., 2003) found that HSFYC recipients were significantly less likely to use severe discipline (slap in the face/spank with object) (OR: 0.68 [95% CI: 0.54-0.86]) and more likely to negotiate with their child (OR: 1.20 [95% CI: 1.03-1.39]) than the non-HSFYC recipients. HSFYC parents had greater odds of reporting a clinical or borderline concern regarding their child's behavior (OR: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.10-1.64]). They also had greater odds of reporting their child looking at or reading books (OR: 1.16 [95% CI: 1.00-1.35]). Significantly more HSFYC families received age-appropriate anticipatory guidance and parent education that matched their preferences (OR: 1.33 [95% CI: 1.13-1.56]), agreed that the pediatrician or nurse practitioner provided support (OR: 1.25 [95% CI: 1.02-1.53]), and ultimately remained at their practice (OR: 1.19 [95% CI: 1.01-1.39]).
Results of the evaluation (Minkovitz et al., 2003) found that HSFYC recipients were significantly less likely to use severe discipline (slap in the face/spank with object) (OR: 0.68 [95% CI: 0.54-0.86]) and more likely to negotiate with their child (OR: 1.20 [95% CI: 1.03-1.39]) than the non-HSFYC recipients. HSFYC parents had greater odds of reporting a clinical or borderline concern regarding their child's behavior (OR: 1.35 [95% CI: 1.10-1.64]). They also had greater odds of reporting their child looking at or reading books (OR: 1.16 [95% CI: 1.00-1.35]). Significantly more HSFYC families received age-appropriate anticipatory guidance and parent education that matched their preferences (OR: 1.33 [95% CI: 1.13-1.56]), agreed that the pediatrician or nurse practitioner provided support (OR: 1.25 [95% CI: 1.02-1.53]), and ultimately remained at their practice (OR: 1.19 [95% CI: 1.01-1.39]).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County
Primary Contact
Michael P. Papa, Executive Director
The Arc
1201 Australian Avenue
Riviera Beach, FL 33404
(561) 842-3213
The Arc
1201 Australian Avenue
Riviera Beach, FL 33404
(561) 842-3213
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Community / Social Environment
Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education
Community / Social Environment
Education / Childcare & Early Childhood Education
Organization(s)
Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County
Date of implementation
2013
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Palm Beach, FL
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Families
Submitted By
Ale Sarmiento, Health Council of Southeast Florida