Connecting the Dots: Developing a Holistic Picture of Childrens Health Grantmakers in Health Issue D

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Connecting the Dots Developing a Holistic
Pictureof Childrens HealthGrantmakers in
Health Issue DialogueOverview of Child Serving
Systems
June 12, 2008 Washington, DC
Charles Bruner
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King Solomons Child Getting Ready for School
Cognitive Development Domains Language and
Literacy and Cognitive Development Providers Earl
y childhood educators, preschool teachers,
special education staff, child development
specialists
Physical Development Domains Physical Health and
Motor Development Providers Pediatricians,
family and nurse practitioners, nutritionists,
physical therapists
Social and Emotional Development Domains Social
and Emotional Development Approaches to
Learning Providers Social workers, developmental
psychologists, home visitors and parent
educators, child mental health professionals
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A Systemic Approach to Early Learning
Source Early Childhood Systems Working Group
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Historical Construct A Long History of Efforts
at Service Integration and Collaboration

• Recurring Efforts to Develop Comprehensive
  Approaches to Child Health and Development
• Integrated Service Initiatives and War on
  Poverty/Great Society Programs (1960s and 1970s)
• National Center for Service Integration, Together
  We Can Partnership, and Comprehensive Community
  Initiatives (1980s and 1990s)
• State, Community, and Federal Cross-Agency
  Planning and Governance Structures (1990s and
  2000s)
• Some Recurring Lessons from Efforts
• One Agencys Integration is Anothers
  Fragmentation
• Seamlessness, Not Consolidation, as Goal (no
  wrong door vs. one stop)
• Continuity Needs to Be Viewed Through Child and
  Family Perspective

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Addressing All Determinants of Healthy Development
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Implications for Health Providers Health
System Role
Health Insurance Coverage
Use of Primary Health Services
Follow-up for Needed Medical and Other Services
Healthy Child Development

Providing access to coverage (Medicaid, SCHIP,
and private insurance) Getting children enrolled
(outreach and easy enrollment)
Providing a medical home and well-child
visits Providing comprehensive screening
(physical, dental, mental, environmental)
Providing effective referrals to further assess
and treat medical and other health-related needs
Higher health trajectory and greater safety and
success Reduced need for remediation and chronic
disease management
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Implications for Preschool Providers Preschool
Role
Preschool Program Access and Use
Participation in Quality Preschool Program
Follow-up for Needed Developmental and Other
Services
Healthy Child Educational Development

Providing access to preschool Getting children
enrolled (outreach and easy enrollment)
Providing high quality early learning
program Identifying other child and family needs
to ensure early learning
Providing effective referrals to further assess
and address health and education-related needs
Higher educational trajectory and greater
educational success Reduced need for educational
and other remediation
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Further Thoughts on Primary Health Providers Role
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Leading Efforts to Create Holistic Responses to
Childrens Health and Development

• BUILD Initiative (seven-state effort sponsored by
  Early Childhood Funders Collaborative to build
  comprehensive early learning systems)
• ABCD Initiative (multi-state effort sponsored by
  Commonwealth Fund to strengthen primary health
  practitioners role in a holistic focus on
  childrens healthy development)
• Strengthening Families Initiative (multi-state
  effort sponsored by the Doris Duke Foundation to
  strengthen early care and education in promoting
  healthy family and child development, with a
  focus upon strengthening protective factors)
• School Readiness Indicators Initiative (17-state
  effort sponsored by the Ford, Kauffman, and
  Packard Foundations to develop indicators of
  child health, development, and well-being to
  guide policy development)
• Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grants and
  Project Thrive

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Contact Information
Charles Bruner cbruner_at_cfpciowa.org Executive
Director Network Director Child Family Policy
Center State Early Childhood Policy www.cfpciowa.o
rg Technical Assistance Network www.finebynin
e.org Research Evaluation Director Build
Initiative www.buildinitiative.org
218 6th Avenue, Suite 1021 Des Moines, IA
0309-4006 515-280-9027 phone [phone] fax