Project Grant UH445625

MATERNAL, INFANT, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING PROGRAM - PROJECT TITLE: WEST VIRGINIA HOME VISITATION PROGRAM (WVHVP) APPLICANT NAME: WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES ADDRESS: 350 CAPITOL STREET, ROOM 427, CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA 25301 PROJECT DIRECTOR: JACKIE NEWSON E-MAIL ADDRESS: JACKIE.J.NEWSON@WV.GOV CONTACT PHONE #S: VOICE: (304) 414-0648 FAX: (304) 558-4984 ANNOTATION: WVHVP WILL ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACING WEST VIRGINIA (WV) FAMILIES ON RESOURCE LINKAGES THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGY AND DATA SHARING ACTIVITIES IMPROVING OVERALL IMPACT OF HOME VISITING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES IN HIGH-RISK AREAS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A STATEWIDE COORDINATED INTAKE SYSTEM, ONLINE REFERRAL LINKAGES, INTEGRATED DATA SHARING AND TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION STRATEGIES. WVHVP WILL APPLY FOR TRACK ONE GENERAL DATA/TECHNOLOGY. PROBLEM: NO STATE HAS BEEN AS PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED BY THE SUBSTANCE USE EPIDEMIC AS WV. THE IMPACT OF THIS EPIDEMIC IS FELT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO BE DEVASTATED. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CRISIS HAS NOT SPARED THE STATE'S EXPECTANT AND PARENTING MOTHERS. HIGHER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME (NAS) AND INFANT SUBSTANCE-EXPOSED RATES CONTRIBUTE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE ANNUALLY. THE IMPACT OF POVERTY, MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, HISTORY OF TRAUMA AND SUBSTANCE USE INCREASES THE RISK FOR YOUNG CHILDREN FOR POOR OUTCOMES RELATED TO SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH (SSDOH). PURPOSE: WVHVP INTENDS TO STRENGTHEN A STATEWIDE CONTINUUM FOR WV FAMILIES. INTEGRATED ADMINISTRATIVE DATA MEASURING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, ENHANCED EARLY CHILDHOOD DATA INTEGRATION AND CENTRALIZED INTAKE TO REACH FAMILIES UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED BY HOME VISITING AND FAMILIES FACING DISPROPORTIONATE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING NEEDED SERVICES, WITH A PRIORITY FOCUSED ON FAMILIES ENTERING THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: THE GOALS WILL BE TO STRENGTHEN PREVENTIVE EFFORTS FROM TRAUMA AND CHILD REMOVAL SITUATIONS WITH A STATEWIDE COORDINATED REFERRAL PROCESS AND ONLINE SOCIAL CARE AND REFERRAL SYSTEM. IMPROVE CHILD AND FAMILY OUTCOMES THROUGH INCREASED SSDOH SCREENINGS FOR FAMILIES ENROLLED. SUPPORT AND COORDINATE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP IN PROGRAM DECISION MAKING FOR FAMILIES UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED AND FACING DISPROPORTIONATE BARRIERS TO ACCESS OR PARTICIPATE IN SERVICES. OBJECTIVES WILL BE: - REDUCE DISPARITIES IN THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF FAMILIES SERVED, - ENSURE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED, HOME VISITING SERVICES SUPPORTING COORDINATION OF SERVICES TO PROVIDE POSITIVE OUTCOMES IN HIGHEST AT-RISK FAMILIES, - INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HIGH-RISK AND HARD-TO-ENGAGE FAMILIES SERVED USING A FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH, ESPECIALLY THOSE SERVED IN HIGHEST AT-RISK AREAS; AND - PROMOTE TWO GENERATIONAL MODELS OF TRAINING TO IMPROVE IMPACT OF FAMILY TRAUMA, MENTAL HEALTH AND CHILD OUTCOMES. METHODOLOGY: WV WILL DEVELOP A COORDINATED INTAKE SYSTEM UTILIZING STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE A STANDARD REFERRAL PROCESS FOR FAMILIES. EXPAND HELP ME GROW ACTIVITIES TO INCLUDE A COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST, INTENSIVE TRAINING OF EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS AND ASSURANCES OF EQUITABLE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN DECISION MAKING PROCESSES. FORMALIZE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CHILD WELFARE USING AN INNOVATIVE SOCIAL SERVICES SEARCH AND REFERRAL PLATFORM AND INCREASE SCREENING FOR SSDOH. EFFECTIVENESS OF ACTIVITIES WITH THE PROJECT, A RIGOROUS EVALUATION BY A COMPETENT, EXPERIENCED EVALUATION TEAM WITH EXPERTISE IN BOTH TECHNOLOGY AND EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITING WILL BE CONDUCTED.