CedarValley United Way

Progress Report 2013/2014

Target Issue: Health-Maternal Health and Infant Well-Being

Buchanan CountyVolunteer Services2012/2013 Request:$22,000

Healthy Families-Buchanan County2013/2014 Award:$17,292

Number of anticipated participants to be directly served by the program annually: 60 Families Changes to the number of anticipated participants based on current conditions: NA

  • Total number of actual participants: Phase 1: 52 familiesPhase 2:56 families

Phase 1*Phase 2* Cumulative Totals*

# of participants who achieve at least one health goal related to pregnancy / 52 Families
(85 parents,
60 children) / 35 Families
(61 parents, 47 children) / 56 Families
# of participants that are on track to successfully exit this program / 42 Families / 21 Families / 56 Families
Your choice as it relates to maternal health and infant well-being: / Please see below. / Please see below.

*Report only unduplicated numbers

Based on the above information, what changes, challenges or improvements are being implemented or experienced to impact the effectiveness of the program?

  • Phase 2:

It had been projected that during F.Y. 2014, 60 families would participate in 6,240 hours of programming through this funding source. Since 7/1/13, 56 families including 135children have participated in 762 in home visits plus 685 other visits (office, etc.) Staff have dedicated 8,445 hours for the year to these families.

Healthy Families-Buchanan County provides voluntary home visits to families prenatally and up to age 5 as a way of reducing the stress associated with pregnancy and the birth of a child. These visits provide support, nurturing, and information to parents in efforts to improve parenting skills, to enhance child health outcomes, and to advocate for families while linking them with other needed community services.

Of the families participating during this time period:

  • 56% were partnered/18% were married.
  • Average household size was 3 (44%)
  • 95% exist below 200% of poverty level.
  • 95% had high school diploma, GED, or less.

Since 7/1/13, the Good has included:

 Twenty-one (21) familiesentered the program. Of those:

13 (62%) entered prenatally. Each delivered healthy infants with no complications.

 92% had a medical home and preventative medical care assured.

 Thirty-six (36) families were discharged from the program throughout the year.

Exits were attributed to:

15 families completed program goals after 42 months (ave.) of participation.

10 families moved out of county so were referred to like-programs.

4 families agreed to participation, but after 3 months on Creative Outreach were exited.

7 families left the program with goals partially met.

17 families opted to continue participation into the new fiscal year.

In February 2014, National Peer Review Panel representatives were on site for three days to complete the National Re-Accreditation Process. A panel member commented that she wishes all Healthy Family America sites looked like Buchanan County’s. “Then we could be assured all children are safe”.

The Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory )A.A.P.I.) is an inventory designed to access the parenting and childrearing attitudes of adults and adolescents. A widely researched tool, it is based on five known parenting and childrearing behaviors. Response to the inventory provide an index of risk from which to plan interventions as well as assure parent progress through participation in the program.

In Buchanan County, each program participated completes the A.A.P.I. upon entry, every 6 months

during engagement, then, once more at discharge. While families are involved, parenting skills are

then instructed utilizing the Nurturing Program, a comprehensive (80 sessions), internationally

recognized curriculum, to ensure parent skills are enhanced.

A comparison of pre-participation and in-progress scorings when compiled for all participants reveals the following (scored on a scale of 1-10):

AAPI Average Scores / Pre-test / Post-test
Expectations of Children / 6.2 / 7.53
Parental Empathy / 5.47 / 7.56
Belief of Corporal Punishment / 6.17 / 6.56
Family Role Reversal / 6.65 / 8.10
Power & Independence / 5.82 / 7.74
Totals / 6 / 7.5

While scorings improved in all areas, remarkable growth includes:

Developmental Expectations of Children-Too often parents inaccurately perceive the abilities of their children which has debilitating effects. Giving parents a better understanding of development, so appropriate expectations can result is critical. 6.2 to 7.53 demonstrates substantial growth.

Parental Empathy-Empathic parents are more sensitive to their children and create an environment that is conducive to promoting their children’s growth. Empathy skills are critical to successful parenting. 5.47 to 7.56

Parent Roles-A parent is a parent; a child is a child. If a child is expected to be a parent normal developmental tasks are missed, self esteem is diminished, and parents lose identity. Growth from 6.65 to8.10 is impressive.

Family Client Surveys are completed on a bi-annual basis. Families report that their Family Support Workers helped them establish goals that were important to them. Family input regarding establishing goals included:

“We had to. I need goals of certain things to get my kid’s back.”

“She sits with me and comes up with ideas. We each tell pros and cons and then agree on goals I need.”

“We set goals and brainstorm ways to achieve them. “

“I’m working on my GED. She gives me numbers to call and worksheets to study.”

“There are always things I want to get done. She keeps me motivated and positive.”

“She talks me through things. She has me write things down so we can discuss them when she visits.”

“ We talk about goals and review them often.”

“She gets me information and resources I need to achieve my goals more wisely.”

And, on the Annual Program Questionnaire, participants noted:

  • How would you rate Healthy Families-Buchanan County? 92% very helpful; 8% helpful.
  • Would you recommend the Healthy Families-Buchanan County program to a friend? 97% YES!

At year-end:

  • 91%of the age-eligible children in the program had received all Ages and Stages Questionnaire (developmental screening tool) per the recommended schedule. Two children are currently served by Early Access as a result of identified needs.
  • Transportation was provided on 56 occasions to assist in accessing medical treatment/services.
  • 78% of participant families self-reported increased healthier family functioning.
  • 96% of target children were current on immunizations.

Success Story:

Lonnie, a single father of a preschooler, enrolled in Healthy Families with his, then, teen wife. Shortly after the birth of his daughter, the mother filed divorce papers. Since that time, Lonnie has been providing care for his daughter. The mother has very limited visitation and provides no monetary or material form of child support. Lonnie has maintained a full time job, provided housing, transportation, and medical care to meet his daughter’s needs.

He has been very willing and open to home visitation and the parenting education provided during each visit. He willingly participated in parent child activities during each visit and reported often that he enjoys spending quality time with his daughter. He continues to ensure all her needs and wants are met. And, although Lonnie is open to asking for assistance if needed, he prides himself on his independence.

His daughter recently completed preschool and is enrolled in kindergarten. Lonnie has established a medical home, follows through with all medical appointments including dental and eye and agreed that, after all this time, he’s ready to be discharged from the Healthy Families program. The graduation celebration was bitter-sweet with tears, pictures and hugs. Both parent and support worker have been positively impacted by this relationship.

Phase 1= July 1, 2013-December 31, 2013Report Due: July 15, 2014

Phase 2= January 1, 2014-June 30, 2014