STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Workforce, Education, & Equity
AGENDA DATE: November 9, 2022
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Community Care
EXECUTIVE: M. Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira
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SUBJECT
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A resolution authorizing approval of an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Dallas and Dallas County, approved as to form by the City Attorney, for Parkland Health & Hospital System to implement a universal Newborn Nurse Home Visit Program as seen in Exhibit A, with matching funds to be provided by Dallas County - Not to exceed $2,000,000.00 - Financing: Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund
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BACKGROUND
The Novel Coronavirus Disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic and its resulting economic impacts have put a strain on health outcomes for many families in Dallas. The time after a baby’s birth is especially vulnerable for every family; research on one program has demonstrated that up to 94% of families have at least one nurse-identified risk or need postpartum, yet there is no organized system of care to support families with newborns and children 0-5. Until a child enters school, families must navigate a complex landscape of disconnected services to survive and thrive. While there are programs, there is no universal touch point, no ability to triage family needs, and no alignment of resources or care that connects families to the right resources at the right time.
Universal newborn nurse home visiting can change this for families. One example of a program is called Family Connects. Family Connects is a population-level approach that coordinates care and aligns resources with a simple, evidenced-based strategy: a postpartum, nurse home-visit available to every family with newborns ages 2 to 12 weeks (and provides up to 3 home visits). Nurse home visits are offered to all families in a community to assess family health and well-being at about three weeks postpartum. The touch point is light, as most families only need one visit, but they can leverage a community's existing grid of resources and strengthen the overall early childhood system in a community therefore impacting not just public health and safety of young children, but also early learning.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the need for such programming as children have missed appointments/immunizations, and mothers have missed postpartum care appointments. Addressing these issues, universal newborn nurse home visiting has demonstrated efficacy in improving maternal and child outcomes and connecting families to critically needed services.
In FY 2021-22 the City of Dallas, Dallas County, and Parkland Health & Hospital System met several times to discuss a Home Visiting Program for the residents of the City and County. Parkland Health & Hospital System presented their Newborn Nurse Home Visit Program.
The Parkland Health & Hospital System universal Newborn Nurse Home Visit Program is a population-level approach that coordinates care and aligns resources with a simple, evidenced-based strategy that includes:
• One to three postpartum, nurse home-visits available to every family with newborns ages 2 to 12 weeks with the number of visits based on a triaged assessment
• Offering of nurse home-visits to all families in a community on a voluntary basis and free of charge, to assess family health and well-being at approximately three weeks postpartum
• Referrals designed to leverage a community's existing grid of resources and strengthen the overall early childhood system in a community, therefore, impacting not just public health and safety of young children, but also early learning
The model aims to support families and enhance maternal and child health and well-being with the following key, specific targeted outcomes: 1) reduction of child abuse and neglect, 2) reduction of infant and toddler use of ER care, and 3) reduction of parental anxiety/depression.
This item authorizes approval of an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Dallas and Dallas County, for Parkland Health & Hospital System to implement a universal Newborn Nurse Home Visit Program, with matching funds to be provided by Dallas County.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On June 23, 2021, City Council authorized application for and acceptance of a direct allocation from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund of the Treasury in the total amount of $355,426,891.00, by Resolution No. 21-1149.
City Council was briefed on allocation of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, including allocation of $2,000,000.00 to a Home Visiting Program to provide home visiting services to families after the birth of a child that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and/or by needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on August 18, 2021.
On September 22, 2021, City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Budget, which authorized the appropriation of $355,426,891.00 from the American Rescue Plan Act in Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, including $25,400,000.00 to support people in crisis by providing mental health care, children/family services, food/essentials assistance, benefits/financial navigation, and contract oversight/technology by Resolution No. 21-1590.
The Workforce, Education, and Equity Committee was briefed on the proposed Home Visiting Program, and recommended approval of agreement on October 11, 2022.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2022-23 |
FY 2023-24 |
Future Years |
|
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund |
$2,000,000.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |