Born Learning

Creating a coordinated screening, referral and intervention system for Portage County children from age 0 - 5

Full Project Name:Born Learning: Portage County rural community collaboration for optimal child developmentPrimary Community Organization:United Way of Portage CountyPrimary Academic Partner:John Meurer, MD, MBA, Institute for Health and EquityAward Amount:$350,000

Award Date

January2017

Project Duration:30 months

Project Description Narrative:

The CDC has reported that childhood adversity contributes to major chronic, mental, economic and social health issues. In response, Portage County "Born Learning" partners sought to pool and align its resources in order to better link families to resources that can keep children healthy and safe. Project partners will work to change institutional policies and protocols within targeted programs to develop a countywide Social Service Triage Systems that will provide coordinated screening, referrals, and intervention for at-risk families of children from prenatal to age 5 in order to reduce the number and scale of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) scores in Portage County communities.

Community partners: Children&s Hospital of Wisconsin (Strong Start), CAP Services (Head Start, Early Head Start), Marshfield Clinic, Ascension/Ministry Health Care, Portage County Health and Human Services (WIC, Birth-three program, Prenatal Care Coordination, Child Protective Services), Aspirus, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Developed screening tools that will identify families at risk in obstetrics, pediatrics, and family practice settings, as well as in community organizations
Developed data sharing agreements and MOUs, along with release of information forms for families
Identified five parent representatives who attend target population monthly meetings who provide guidance to the project team
Launched development of triage system, collecting data to build site and establish workflow processes
Leveraged $100,000 in additional funding

Project Updates:

• Developed screening tools that will identify families at risk in obstetrics, pediatrics, and family practice settings as well as in community organizations

• Developed data sharing agreements and MOUs, along with release of information forms for families

• Identified five parent representatives who attend target population monthly meetings who provide guidance to the project team

• Launched development of triage system, collecting data to build site and establish workflow processes

• Leveraged $100,000 in additional funding