Care Ring’s Post

“More than one third of children in the United States live below 200% of the federal poverty level and are disproportionately exposed to adverse social conditions that increase their risk of physical, developmental, and behavioral health problems.” Screenings for Social Drivers of Health (SDoH) in the primary care setting can lead to essential connections to community services for families and children. An exceptional qualitative study was published exploring the perspectives of caregivers being asked the screening questions for SDoH. Their findings are an excellent example of how intent does not equal impact. As healthcare professionals, we strive to help others and unfortunately, how we go about offering services can, unintentionally, be an added barrier to the help we hope to provide.  The themes families shared that healthcare professionals and systems can integrate into their practice include:  - The acceptability of social determinants of health screening questions was tied to participants’ understanding of the connection between the topic and child health - Families preferred a warm handoff to community services  - Families fear child protective services intervention as a result of sharing unmet social needs - Positive provider rapport was an important factor in choosing to share social needs We especially appreciate the methodology including focus groups in both Spanish and English. The study identified Spanish-speaking families face additional barriers when trying to connect with community services without a warm handoff by the primary clinic due to lack of interpreter services. One quote is quite powerful, highlighting one of the very real fears families face in healthcare settings: “You never know the doctor is going to call CPS which is Child Protective Services, and they don’t have hesitation on taking your child away from you, you know, so a lot of these parents would be scared to really talk about, not to say that we’re not a bad parent and we did not take care of our child, it’s just that we had lack of resources” (an English-speaking caregiver on child protective services intervention) This study adds the most important voice of patients and families. Thank you to the authorship team Leena Penumalee, Jennifer O’Neil Lambert, Martha Gonzalez, Melanie Gray, Ekta Partani, Celia Wilson, Rebecca Etz, and Bergen Nelson for sharing this work! #healthequity #intentversusimpact #implicitbiasinterruption https://lnkd.in/eaxEwJwn

'For a model of care to be successful, drivers must be close to outcomes' Huh? We (recovering) academics can really confuse stuff, so chuck this Babel fish in your ear 👇 and try to make sense of that statement. At the local school council meeting last night, listening to our incredible school principals describe their annual plans and talk about the piles of data they were going to collect and collate and use to measure impact .. got me thinking about a few things. The first thought was around a seminal piece of work I was privileged enough to work on many moons ago .. ( make a strong coffee if you read it, link in comments). The research looked at 55 new models of allied health care implemented across Queensland. We wanted to know what worked, why, how and to what extent did they work. A key finding was that the outcomes that were identified as important and that were measured often didn’t really reflect the reason why the care model was developed in the first place. I know seems a bit daft, yes (anyone else love that word…)? But this happens more often than you think. For example. I am working with a delightful PhD student, Georgia, and her two very fun supervisors (Saravana Kumar and Helen Banwell) looking at early intervention models of care in rural areas for children with disabilities. In her first output, a systematic scoping review, Georgia discovered that many research articles examining new or ‘novel’ (not a fan of that word) models of care are also not great at this. Here’s an example. A model of care is devised and implemented to improve access to allied health services. The primary outcome measure is the number of children assessed and referred on to appropriate services. Hmmm. So, more children were assessed and referred elsewhere, but what then? Did that actually improve access to allied health services or did it mean children were subject to another waiting list? Was assessment and referral a proxy measure of access? Was this a positive outcome for the child and family? The findings were interesting, and we got the gist of what they were trying to do …  but from a quality data and impact perspective we are left guessing to some extent whether or not the model of care achieved what it set out to achieve. In the end, I believe the authors actually needed to be clearer about their driver (why they felt they needed to implement the model of care). If they were clearer about exactly what the problem around access was (and with that, how an assessment and screening service might help to resolve part of that problem), then their outcome measure would have been more meaningful. So as we launch into strategic planning o’clock, as well as thinking carefully about the improvement strategies you choose, try to choose measures that are closely aligned to and are most likely to demonstrate that you are making progress towards solving the problem you are trying to solve.

Excited to share the findings of my doctoral research: "Complicating ‘Voice’ and ‘Choice’: The Role of Child Life Specialists in Shaping Children’s Health Care Participation Rights in the Netherlands" to be published in the Journal of #childlife in March. Key findings: ✔️ In pediatric healthcare settings, children’s abilities to make decisions related to their health and healthcare are shaped by various interrelated complexities ✔️ Children's participation rights are shaped by adults who can play an important role in children's decision-making processes (especially in acute, intensive, or palliative care settings) ✔️ Complexities in shaping children's participation rights provide an impetus to move beyond the rhetoric of listening to a child’s individualistic voice ✔️ In #childlife practice, it is important to build awareness of #childrensrights to decision-making The Association of Child Life Professionals, Inc. https://lnkd.in/gHCZ_Wgy

In pediatric settings, documentation of health-related social needs (HRSN) data can be crucial for reducing social inequities and disparities in children’s health outcomes. HRSN data can include information on housing, transportation, and experiences of violence. In a recent Q&A with LDI Fellows Aditi Vasan and Chen Kenyon, and Zoe Bouchelle, MD, MSHP, the investigators provide responses that emphasize the need for respect of parental preferences and more transparency around HRSN data collection, documentation, and sharing. When treating young patients, their parents, guardians, or caregivers are key stakeholders. To learn more about parental perspectives on HRSN data and important policy implications, see the full Q&A below: https://lnkd.in/dr8UABHp

Dr Corina Modderman has evaluated a new area-based intervention model to improve health outcomes for children in out-of-home care (OOHC). “In Australia, children and young people may be placed in OOHC when they cannot safely remain at home due to child abuse, neglect, or parents' inability to provide adequate protection,” Dr Modderman explains. Dr Modderman says the health needs of children in OOHC are often not prioritised, leading to long-term health conditions. “This issue is even more present in rural and regional communities, where healthcare inequalities persist due to limited access to primary healthcare services," she says.   Dr Modderman’s project, based in Mildura, explored how collaborative processes could improve health outcomes for children in OOHC. “A key factor was the co-location of a health navigator, which is someone who helps people access the right support. In our study, the health navigator was a registered nurse and we found that having them integrated into the Maternal and Child Health Service and Child Protection Program improved health access and outcomes for children in OOHC.” “Key infrastructure improvements also took place, such as forming a specialist paediatric OOHC clinic at the Mildura Base Public Hospital and identifying children in OOHC on Sunraysia Community Health Services and Maternal and Child Health referral documents.” Dr Modderman says the results are promising, demonstrating that improved health system integration is beneficial for children in OOHC. “At the heart of our recommendations is the spirit of collaboration, mutual support and a shared drive for the rights of children in OOHC to have quality and priority access to health and wellbeing services.” Read more: https://bit.ly/45OK2PH #LaTrobeRuralHealthSchool #LaTrobeUniversity #SocialWork

What Caregiving Youths do...MATTERS! I support Courageous Caregiving Youths through AACY.org! What society and policy makers do for them, MATTERS MOST! [email protected]

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Mexico’s team has crisscrossed the state talking to residents, community leaders and organizations to learn what matters most to building healthier communities. As a result, we’ve collaborated with community partners to implement programs to advance #healthequity including: * UNM College of Population Health – partnering on an #SDOH Health Equity 101 course to help teach law, medical, urban planning and other students strategies to address #socialdriversofhealth in society. * New Mexico Doula Association – collaborating to expand access to #doulacare statewide to help pregnant families in #maternitydeserts access care. * The National Latino Behavioral Health Association– supporting substance use youth prevention programs to help improve #youthmentalhealth. * The University of New Mexico Foundation, Inc., Goodwill Industries of New Mexico and T-Mobile – expanding access to #digitaliteracy training and internet service to help rural communities get connected. As a managed care organization with #TurquoiseCare our focus will always be on the people we serve, and we are dedicated to providing resources, education and guidance to improve the health of New Mexico. #healthequity #communityhealth #populationhealth #communitypartnership #NewMexicohealth #socialdriversofhealth #Medicaid Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gKWDnPxw

I understand only too well the challenges families face when they first realise a loved one may need care - often when they are least prepared. My personal experience with this journey was filled with uncertainty and difficulty, prompting me to ensure others wouldn’t have to navigate this path alone. Care Campaign for the Vulnerable is driven by a commitment to prevent other families from facing the same confusion and challenges that I did. To better support families, CCFTV is soon to launch our newly refreshed website, which will feature a user-friendly interactive tool that will enable families to submit their inquiries and we will provide detailed answers and as much information as possible on navigating care options. This initiative is designed to make support more accessible and to empower families with knowledge. Additionally, we are expanding our efforts through comprehensive education and awareness Roundtables that inform families about the different types of social care available. Regular information sessions are also part of our initiative, hosted by local health and social care providers across communities. These sessions are crucial for families, helping them recognise when care might be needed, understand their options, and effectively plan. Our community dementia support group offers support and serves as a vital resource for families new to the care process, providing a platform for sharing experiences and advice. CCFTV continues to receive positive feedback from families who are grateful for the support provided. Many have expressed that without our assistance, they would not have found positive solutions to their care needs. This feedback is invaluable and reinforces our commitment to supporting families. We are also actively working to highlight the challenges to ensure care services are adequately supported, focusing on making these services more accessible and reducing bureaucratic obstacles. Through these comprehensive strategies, CCFTV is dedicated to empowering families with the tools necessary to make informed care decisions, well before a crisis arises, ensuring better outcomes and a stronger, more informed caring community. #EllensMemory #CareCampaignForTheVulnerable

Learn how home-visiting programs like SafeCare are changing lives and strengthening communities. Discover the impact of early intervention in the article, 'Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs and Health.' #SafeCare #ParentingProgram #EarlyIntervention. https://lnkd.in/eSs8zAkw

How great is this? Low cost and effective inter generational program to connect people. Let's see more of this. The benefits outweigh the effort - no doubt! The ongoing connection in the community - priceless! Reducing loneliness and building confidence for both age groups to connect with others - priceless! #intergenerational #fightloneliness #connectioniskey #cairnsandhinterlandhealthservice