MCHC NEWS AND EVENTS
Healthy Start: Closing the Gap
Improving the Health of Mothers and Children in Chester County
Ten Year Outcomes 1996-2005
Maternal and Child Health Consortium’s Healthy Start program provides countywide prenatal and postpartum home visiting and case management to help promote safe pregnancies and deliveries for low-income women and prompt enrollment of children into pediatric care and health insurance programs.
At the heart of Healthy Start are 11 Family Health Advocates (Advocates), most of whom are bilingual and bicultural. Reflecting the ethnic and cultural characteristics of their communities, Advocates provide a culturally sensitive link between expectant mothers and a complex health care and social service system.
In a ten year outcomes report, birth records from 2,435 births (1996 to 2005) to Healthy Start participants were compared with data of Chester County “non-participants” who gave birth during the same period. The participants that enrolled into Healthy Start were women at highest risk for poor health outcomes (for example, 81% were Latino or African American). Healthy Start participants had rates of low birth weight and preterm birth that were consistently better than national, state, and local rates. For the time period of 1996-2005, the preterm birth rate for Healthy Start participants was 7.3% and surpassed the Healthy People 2010 objective to reduce preterm births to 7.6% of all births.
For the same period, 5.6% of Healthy Start infants were born at a low birth weight. This was just above the Healthy People 2010 national goal that low birth weight rates be reduced to 5%. However, the average low birth weight rate for African American Healthy Start infants was 7.8%, much lower than the average low birth weight for African American infants residing in the community area (12%) that were not enrolled. The average low birth weight rate for Latino Healthy Start infants was also significantly lower (4.5%) than the low birth weight rate for Latino infants residing in the community area (7.9%).
The factors contributing to the success of Healthy Start include: culturally responsive staff; strong outreach component; co-location with a network of five accessible, community based offices; a comprehensive training program for home visitors; and tangible services that women value (home visits, access to health insurance, medical interpretation services, and transportation services).
Does Your Child Have Health Care Coverage?
Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign Targets Uninsured Kids
MCHC is encouraging parents with uninsured children to include health care coverage at the top of their “back to school” checklist.
A non-profit that assists women and children, MCHC, along with partnering agencies and civic groups, is sponsoring a “Back to School” Campaign now through September 1 at numerous locations throughout Chester County. The goal is to increase the number of children enrolled in CHIP and Medicaid. There is no charge for the service.
“Many families are unaware that their children may qualify for free or low cost coverage,” said Pam Bryer, Executive Director of MCHC. “The good news is that under recent changes in the law, the CHIP program covers all uninsured children and teens, including dental care. No family makes too much money to qualify. Eligibility is based on family size, child’s age and income.”
MCHC will also be sharing health insurance information through presentations to business and civic organizations, Bryer said. Organizations which want to participate in the “Back to School” campaign should call MCHC at 610-344-5370, x108 for more information.
MCHC will provide health insurance information and raffle off book bags filled with school supplies from Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the locations listed below.
ChesPenn Family Health Center
1029 E. Lincoln Highway
Coatesville
Coatesville Center for Community Health
1001 East Lincoln Highway
Coatesville
MCHC’s Healthy Start – Coatesville
1001 East Lincoln Highway, Suite #104
Coatesville
MCHC’s Healthy Start – West Chester
Cambridge Square Plaza
323 East Gay Street, B-1-C
West Chester
MCHC’s Healthy Start – Phoenixville
21 South Main Street
Phoenixville
MCHC’s Healthy Start – Kennett Square
Kennett Square Medical Center
400 McFarlan Road, Suite #5
Kennett Square
Project Salud of La Comunidad Hispana
Kennett Square Medical Center
400 McFarlan Road
Kennett Square
Women Infants Children (WIC)
1465 Old Baltimore Pike
Toughkenamon
Women Infants Children (WIC)
Chester County Government Services Building
601 Westtown Road, Suite 180
West Chester
For assistance with health insurance information as well as help enrolling into CHIP, Medical Assistance, or adultBasic, MCHC’s Health Insurance Coordinator will be at the Lord’s Pantry on August 30 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 pm, at 141 East Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown. Parents will be provided assistance to complete the necessary paperwork to enroll their children in health insurance. The application process includes providing copies of birth certificate, drivers license or identification card, social security card, pay stubs for past month, proof of address (recent electric bill or cable TV bill), and unpaid medical bills.
The “Back to School” Campaign is a part of a national effort called the Covering Kids and Families Initiative, sponsored by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Local funding partners including the Brandywine Health Foundation, Phoenixville Community Health Foundation, United Way of Chester County and others support MCHC’s Health Insurance Enrollment Program.
FREE PARENTING PROGRAM
A new program offering free parenting and educational services to families in Southern Chester County is now available.
The program, sponsored by the Maternal and Child Health Consortium, is aimed at both Spanish and English-speaking families with children ages two to five years old. The goal, according to officials at the consortium, is to increase school readiness for young children through home visits and parenting education provided by bi-lingual, certified educators. The home visiting staff also provide developmental screenings for all children enrolled in the program. Staff work with parents to improve their child’s development; when it is necessary, staff refer families to get additional developmental resources.
The program is open to the public. Families are required to enroll if they want in-home educational visiting services. The Kennett Square Family Center also offers parent support groups, resource referrals and health insurance enrollment assistance to any parent in need of further assistance.
To reach the Family Center directly, call 610-925-4631.
Funding for the Family Center is provided by the following:
Anonymous Foundation, Chester County Department of Human Services,
Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. McNeil,
Longwood Foundation, Pennsylvania’s Children’s Trust Fund,
and Marian S. Ware 2003 Charitable Lead Annuity Trust.
