Innovative Approaches is a program that brings together community stakeholders to work on systems to meet the needs of families with children and youth who have special needs.
Granville Vance Public Health is one of four local health departments chosen to receive a three year grant opportunity that focuses on bringing together key community stakeholders to work on systems that impact families with children and youth with special health care needs from birth to 21 years of age. Granville Vance Innovative Approaches has expanded to include Warren County for fiscal years 2019 – 2022!
Innovative Approaches has 6 goals based on the national Maternal and Child Health Bureau outcome measure focused on the percentage of children with special health care needs receiving care in a well-functioning system:
Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) are defined by the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) as:
“…those who have or are at increased risk for a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.”
Some examples include:
The sooner children with developmental disabilities are identified and helped, the better their chances at academic success. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides educational tools and resources through a program called “Learn the Signs. Act Early.”
Granville Vance Public Health has created a novel partnership to engage parents by incorporating these materials into library story time programming and library outreach services to child care centers. This leads to early identification of possible developmental disabilities, which means that children can get needed services
For instance, story time books such as Where is Bear? and Amazing Me, It’s Busy Being Three! are entertaining but more importantly, specifically address key milestones of development for two- and three-year olds. The stories give parents a better understanding of development for their child at this age in a fun and interactive way.
The Innovative Approaches project will expand to pediatric dental practices in the next year, with resource bags containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and information to connect families to resources regarding developmental delay concerns. Young children are getting the help they need at an earlier age—when it can make a big difference—thanks to the creativity, dedication and determination of staff at Granville Vance Public Health.
See the NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation 2018 Child Health Recognition Awards.
Join the Innovative Approaches Steering Committee or Parent Advisory Council (PAC) for Granville Vance and/or Warren County! The committee is a group of people from community organizations, providers, school personnel, and families who have children with special health care needs. Meetings take place every month.
To learn more about Innovative Approaches or get involved, please contact:
La’Shanda M. Person, BSW, MS
Innovative Approaches Coordinator
Phone: (252) 492-7915 ext 248
lperson@gvdhd.org
The Innovative Approaches initiative is supported through the NC Division of Public Health, Children and Youth Branch.