Health Status of Children Enrolled in a Family Navigator Program to Eliminate Intergenerational Poverty

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Jun;58(6):647-655. doi: 10.1177/0009922819832026. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Abstract

In 2014, Family Success Alliance (FSA) was formed as a place-based initiative to build a pipeline of programs to reduce the impact of poverty on outcomes for children living in Orange County, North Carolina. In this study, FSA parents' perception of child health, parent and child adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and resilience were obtained by parent interview. Receipt of recommended health services were abstracted from primary care medical records of FSA children. Correlation coefficients investigated relationships among health, ACEs, and resilience. Among 87 parent-child dyads, 65% were Spanish speaking. At least 1 of the 7 ACEs measured was reported in 37% of children and 70% of parents. Parent perceptions of child health were lower than national averages. Routine preventive services included the following: autism screening at 18 months (15%) and 24 months (31%); ≥4 fluoride varnish applications (10%); lead screening (66%); and receipt of immunizations (94%). Parent perception of child health was moderately correlated with resilience.

Keywords: adverse child experiences; early childhood health; place-based initiative; reducing poverty; resilience.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences / statistics & numerical data*
  • Child
  • Child Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Child Welfare*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Facilities and Services Utilization / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • North Carolina
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Perception
  • Poverty / prevention & control*
  • Poverty / psychology
  • Preventive Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Primary Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Resilience, Psychological*
  • Social Determinants of Health