Search Results: MCHLine

Annotation: This document describes the activities of the first year of Project Launch, a program whose primary objective is to promote the social, emotional, behavioral, and physical health and cognitive development of young children from birth to 8 years of age. The project has 24 grantees in three cohorts to work with a pilot community for five years, pursuing dual goals of improving systems and services. The document describes the components of the program and the process of the evaluation of the first year.

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Keywords: Children, Communities, Community programs, Families, Family support services, Health promotion, Infants, Initiatives, Low income groups, National programs, Prevention, Program evaluation, Public health, Service delivery systems, State programs, Young children

Annotation: This online resource directory lists national self-help groups that focus on specific life problems including abuse, addictions, bereavement, disabilities, family and parenting, health, mental health, and miscellaneous topics. It also lists clearinghouses that can help the reader identify local groups and specialty toll-free numbers by topic, and discusses what self-help groups do and how to set one up.

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Keywords: Directories, Self help groups, Support groups

Annotation: This research brief focuses on the link between the level of support that mothers facing social and economic disadvantages receive in raising their children and their children's development. The brief provides background on the challenges faced by children from socially and emotionally disadvantaged families, describes the analysis the authors conducted, and presents findings.

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Keywords: Academic achievement, Adolescent attitudes, Adolescent behavior, Adolescent development, Adolescents, Child attitudes, Child behavior, Child development, Children, Communities, Early childhood development, Families, Family support, High risk groups, Income factors, Low income groups, Mental health, Mothers, Research, Socioeconomic factors, Statistical data

Annotation: This report provides information from an evaluation of home visiting programs in Illinois that are part of Strong Foundations—a program that supports the implementation, scaling up, and sustainability of evidence-based home-visiting programs for the prevention of child maltreatment. The report presents perspectives on the state system from key informants at state and local program levels and discusses local programs with a focus on five main topics: characteristics of communities and programs, staff training and supervision, program quality and fidelity, programs' ability to meet families' needs, and the availability of and linkages to other community services and resources.

• 2012 Report
• 2011 Report

Keywords: Child maltreatment, Communities, Family support services, Home visiting, Illinois, Local programs, Low income groups, Prevention, Program evaluation, State programs, Training

Annotation: This report provides information about the second year of implementation of Illinois Project Launch (IPL) in communities on Chicago's west side. IPL is part of a national LAUNCH initiatives seeking to promote the wellness of infants and young children from birth through age 8 using a public health approach focused on improving systems that serve infants, young children, and their families. The report describes IPL structure and systems-building activities; implementation of selected IPL activities, prevention and promotion programs, and work-force-development activities; and an overview of key findings, lessons learned, and recommendations.

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Keywords: Children, Communities, Community programs, Families, Family support services, Health promotion, Illinois, Infants, Initiatives, Low income groups, National programs, Prevention, Program evaluation, Public health, Service delivery systems, State programs, Young children

Annotation: This brief presents findings about the potential impact of the service system on improving children's readiness for school from a longitudinal study of a sample of families at high risk living in targeted geographic areas that have higher-than-average rates of child maltreatment, crime, and other related factors that affect school readiness. The brief describes characteristics that are likely to influence children's school readiness, presents findings related to families' use of a range of formal services during their children's early years, and looks at the relationship between these factors and one indicator of children's readiness for school—scores on the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screen.

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Keywords: Child abuse, Child neglect, Communities, Crime, Early childhood development, Families, Family support services, Health services, High risk groups, Low income groups, Maltreated children, Parent support services, Research, Risk factors, School readiness, Service delivery systems, Young children

Annotation: This fact sheet provides information about programs that work and do not work to improve outcomes for adolescent parents with low incomes and their children. The fact sheet reviews 20 parenting programs that are geared toward enhancing parents' development, educating them about effective parenting methods, or both. The fact sheet introduces the issue and reports findings for programs in six outcome areas: child outcomes: health; child outcomes: behaviors and development; parent outcomes: reproductive health; parent outcomes: mental health and behaviors; parent outcomes: education, employment, and income; and parenting outcomes. Promising approaches and future research needs are also discussed.

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Keywords: Adolescent attitudes, Adolescent behaviors, Adolescent development, Adolescent health, Adolescent parents, Child development Parent support programs, Child health, Education, Employment, Family income, High risk groups, Low income groups, Mental health, Parent support services, Parenting skills, Reproductive health, Research

Annotation: This community action guide describes the experiences of a woman and her infant daughter to point out resources that service providers, advocates, and health professionals can use to better understand and respond to the needs of families and children with problems related to mental health, substance abuse, and trauma. The guide also presents information, resources, and tips to foster unified communities that are responsive to families' needs. Topics include the importance of the birth-to-age-5 developmental stage, threats to resilience, levels of stress in young children and families, protective factors, a strategic framework for action, and moving forward. Brief descriptions of successful programs are included.

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Keywords: Advocacy, Children, Community programs, Domestic violence, Families, Family support services, High risk groups, Infants, Mental health, Parent support services, Resilience, Resource materials, Stress, Substance abuse, Vulnerability, Young children

Annotation: This paper presents selected findings from a Palm Beach County, Florida, study about the factors—facilitators and barriers—that affect how low-income families use services, including individual characteristics of families, program and provider characteristics, and neighborhood factors. topics include improving family support and improvement of children's development and readiness for school, and reducing the need for more intensive mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice services. The discussion paper concludes with suggestions for overcoming barriers to service use and improving the service system.

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Keywords: Barriers, Child health, Children, Community programs, Families, Family support services, Florida, Health services delivery, Low income groups, School readiness, Service integration

Annotation: This fact sheet discusses risk factors, particularly economic hardship, for children at risk for academic failure and poor health. The purpose of the fact sheet is to provide information about the size and characteristics of states' populations of young children who are at risk to inform policy decisions about investments in new or expanded supports that help mitigate risks and improve life outcomes for these children. The fact sheet presents national and state prevalence data, which, along with additional information, highlight groups of vulnerable children and families whose needs can be addressed through a wide range of family support, health, and education policies.

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Keywords: Academic achievement, At risk children, Child health, Economic factors, Education, Families, Family support programs, Family support services, Health policy, Low income groups, Policy development, Poverty, Programs, Public policy, Statistical data, Young children

Annotation: This annual report provides information about the Family and Case Management Program and WIC Program in Illinois for FY 2011. The programs strive to reduce infant mortality while also providing other services. Topics include program descriptions, financing, service delivery systems, caseload, performance, outcomes, and racial disparities in infant mortality.

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Keywords: Case management, Families, Family support programs, Final reports, Programs, Financing, Health care systems, High risk groups, Illinois, Infant health, Infant mortality, Low income groups, Parent support programs, Prevention, Racial factors, Service delivery systems, State programs, Women's health

Annotation: This website provides information about Legacy for Children, an evidence-based program whose aim is to improve child outcomes by promoting positive parenting among mothers of infants and young children with low incomes. Information is provided on the program's philosophy, how the program works, and the intervention. More information about program study sites is offered, and links to related pages are included.

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Keywords: Communities, Early childhood development, Family support, Family support programs, Infant development, Infants, Intervention, Low income groups, Mothers, Parent child relations, Parenting skills, Programs, Young children

Annotation: This document presents guidelines and evaluation criteria for hospitals and birthing centers seeking Baby-Friendly designation. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a global program to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding. Guidelines address the following steps: (1) having a written breastfeeding policy, (2) training staff to implement the policy, (3) informing pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding, (4) helping mothers initiate breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth, (5) showing mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, (6) giving infants breast milk only unless medically indicated, (7) practicing rooming in, (8) encouraging breastfeeding on demand, (9) giving no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants, and (10) fostering the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and referring mothers to them after discharge.

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Keywords: Birthing centers, Breastfeeding promotion, Breastfeeding promotion programs, Communities, Evaluation, Guidelines, Hospital programs, Infant health, Newborn infants, Quality assurance, Reproductive health, Support groups, Women's health

Annotation: This policy framework details six policy elements to strengthen the effectiveness and accountability of home visiting programs. The purpose of the policy elements is to support strong families and ensure that tax dollars are well spent. Policy elements discussed are (1) clearly define the purpose and expected outcomes of the home-visiting program, (2) invest in home-visiting models that have a proven record of success, (3) track public dollars, (4) monitor and evaluate publicly funded programs to ensure effectiveness, (5) target at-risk communities and/or high-risk populations, and (6) invest enough money to reach all eligible families.

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Keywords: Communities, Costs, Families, Family support programs, Financing, High risk groups, Home visiting, Infants, Low income groups, Prevention, programs

Annotation: This report provides examples of how American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds have improved the lives of children and families by enabling access to child care assistance, as well as investments in the quality of care. The paper discusses the study methodology, as well as the use of ARRA funds for a variety of purposes.

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Keywords: Child care, Children, Evaluation, Families, Family support services, Low income groups, Research, School age children, Young children

Annotation: This brief focuses on home visiting for parents of infants and young children. It reviews existing programs to illustrate successful elements and to point out areas that need improvement. The brief also examines the effects of poverty on mothers and young children, discusses why home visiting programs are a good investment, and looks at how policymakers and stakeholders can craft effective programs for vulnerable families.

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Keywords: Costs, Families, Family support programs, Family support services, Home visiting, Infants, Low income groups, Mothers, Poverty, Vulnerability, Young children

Annotation: This brief provides an overarching view of investments in children and illuminates critical decision points and questions for policymakers. The brief looks at public investments from birth through the elementary years. Topics include how much is invested in children at different ages; how federal spending compares with state and local spending; how the federal government invests in each age group in the areas of health, nutrition, education and social services, income support, and housing; the portion of federal resources targeted toward children from families with lower incomes; and whether funding is being directed to the most critical areas. Analysis methods are discussed, as well.

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Keywords: Age factors, Children, Education, Family support services, Federal programs, Financing, Health, Housing, Local programs, Low income groups, Nutrition, Public policy, Social services, State programs

Annotation: This report documents Family Voices' conversations with parents of children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities from diverse cultural groups (Hispanic, African American, and Native American). The report describes parents' concerns about and perceived barriers to (1) being partners in decision-making about supports and services and (2) being advisors to committees and councils. The report also shares parents' recommendations for how to improve their capacity to be effective decision-makers for their own children, and provides parents' suggestions for improving organizational recruitment and support for participation on advisory committees and for other leadership roles. The report discusses engaging Hispanic parents, African-American parents, and Native American parents and presents common themes across groups for recruiting and supporting parents new to advisory roles.

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Keywords: Adolescent with special health care needs, Advisory committees, American Indians, Blacks, Children with special health care needs, Cultural factors, Health services, Hispanic Americans, Leadership, Minority groups, Parent participation, Parent professional relations, Parent support services, Parents, Recruitment

Annotation: This final report describes a 2005-2010 project to incorporate a family resource center into an existing pediatric practice to offer family and community focused health care for low-income children and their families. The project included providing bilingual services in a culturally competent manner, assisting families with referrals for basic needs, developing a local resource manual, working as a liaison with Medicaid and state insurance programs to ensure eligibility, and providing families with transportation services to attend medical needs. Report contents include a description of the project, its goals and objectives, methodology, evaluation, results and outcomes, and dissemination and utilization of results. Sample surveys and forms developed for the project are also included. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

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Keywords: Child health, Community based services, Family centered services, Family support services, Final reports, Low income groups, Project descriptions

Annotation: This needs assessment identifies (1) at-risk communities in Alabama, (2) home-visiting resources for Alabama families with infants and children from birth through age 5, and (3) gaps in services as they relate to areas of greatest risk vs. locations of home visiting programs in the state. The needs assessment provides an overview of child well-being in Alabama and discusses coordination with other statewide needs assessment and reports. It also includes a statewide data report, a discussion of the approach to identifying at-risk communities, data reports for each at-risk community, and an overview pf the quality and capacity of existing home-visiting programs.

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Keywords: Programs, Alabama, Families, Family support programs, Family support services, Home visiting, Infants, Low income groups, Needs assessment, Statistical data, Underserved communities, Young children