UCLA/J&J Health Care Institute
Project Description:
Need: Prior to Hurricane Katrina, low-income families used Charity Hospitals emergency room as a one-stop shop for care as there was a lack of clinics willing to treat Medicaid patients or the uninsured. When the levees broke in the aftermath of Katrina, Charity's basement was flooded and it was declared unfit for service. Government funding led to a proliferation of local clinics focused on primary care for the uninsured. Although access to primary care clinics has improved, health disparities have not. Reasons hypothesized include low public awareness of the clinics and the services that are provided in the community and transportation constraints. Also, many parents do not understand the importance preventive health visits for children.
Goals: Train 100 early childhood professionals and 100 families each year to increase health literacy and promote wellness. Implement UCLA/J&J protocol for training and follow-up, and assessment.
Unusual Features: HCI focuses on a specific aspect of health each year: childhood illness, oral health, mental health, and nutrition. Families are trained and receive 3 follow-up visits to support implementation of concepts taught/resources provided.
Expected benefits: The UCLA/J&J Health Care Institute has already documented that increasing family health literacy can decrease unnecessary emergency room visits. This can relieve pressure on overcrowded medical facilities and reduce the associated financial costs absorbed by insurance companies, families, and government. Train the trainer model will strengthen our EC team's to promote health and wellness and potentially reduce the disparities in the community we serve.
Keyword(s):
health education, dental, mental health, nutrition
Core Function(s):
Continuing Education/Community Training, Other Direct/Model Services
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Renewal Community, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
