DOWNSTATE NEW YORK HEALTHY START

The Downstate NY Healthy Start Project (DNYHS) is a federal initiative funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The Project is a partnership of three local lead agencies – QCPC, Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau and Suffolk County Perinatal Coalition; and the project grantee, Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University.

QCPC provides case management intervention services to women of childbearing age who are pregnant and/or parenting an infant/toddler up to two years of age and reside in one of its three target communities:

  • South Jamaica (zip code 11433)

  • Arverne (zip code 11692)

  • Rockaway Beach (zip code 11693).

Case Coordinators recruit program participants through outreach/case finding activities at identified “hot spots�? (food pantries, WIC Centers, supermarkets, laundromats, perinatal health facilities, day care centers, schools, etc.). Upon enrollment into the DNYHS Project, the Case Coordinators conduct case management services coordination, including the completion of a comprehensive care coordination needs assessment and care coordination plan and referral linkages to needed health and social support services. Referral tracking follow-up is conducted to obtain outcome information.

Each program participant receives a series of home visits including orientation, prenatal, post-partum and newborn/pediatric (based on the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended child health schedule). Client advocacy is provided at scheduled appointments whenever necessary.

Health Education workshops are conducted monthly at each of the DNYHS Project offices. Topics include QCPC’s five-part culturally-specific Nubian Parenting Program, “Kukhulisa Kahale�?, and selected topics (Perinatal Substance Abuse, HIV/STDs, Breastfeeding, SIDS Prevention, Domestic Violence, Smoking Cessation and Family Planning). In addition to monthly workshops, special events are also held in each office (Baby Showers, Kwanzaa Celebration).

In order to strengthen professional linkages, an ongoing dialogue is maintained with maternal/child health and social support services providers. Professional linkages are established by conducting site visits with key administrators.