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Multi-institutional service system development for high risk infants
C L Young1, C J Groark, G J Wasson
1Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, PA.
Insights
This study details a county-wide system for high-risk infants and families, establishing guidelines for health service building. It highlights early intervention services for very low birthweight infants, spurred by federal legislation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Health Services Research
Background:
- High-risk populations, including very low birthweight infants and their families, require specialized follow-up care.
- Federal legislation, such as P.L. 99-457, supports the development of early intervention services for infants and toddlers.
- The Alliance for Infants program in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, targeted very low birthweight infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the development of a county-wide, multi-institutional follow-up system for a high-risk pediatric population.
- To propose guidelines for building effective health service systems for vulnerable infants and families.
- To illustrate the implementation of early intervention services funded by federal mandates.
Main Methods:
- Development of a collaborative, county-wide follow-up system involving multiple institutions.
- Focus on a specific high-risk population: very low birthweight infants and their families.
- Leveraging provisions from the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986 (P.L. 99-457).
Main Results:
- Successful establishment of a multi-institutional follow-up system for high-risk infants.
- Creation of a framework and guidelines for health service system development in early intervention.
- Demonstration of a functional early intervention program for very low birthweight infants.
Conclusions:
- Multi-institutional systems are crucial for effective follow-up of high-risk pediatric populations.
- Guidelines developed can inform future health service system building for early intervention programs.
- Federal funding and legislation play a vital role in establishing and sustaining essential services for vulnerable infants.
Abstract:
This article describes the development of a county-wide multi-institutional follow-up system for a high risk population of children and their families and proposes guidelines for health service system building. The target population for this program known as the Alliance for Infants and based in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, was the very low birthweight infant and their families. Passage of legislation, P.L. 99-457, Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986, included provisions for Handicapped and At Risk Infants and Toddlers Program, which provided funds to states to develop and implement early intervention services such as the program described in this article.