Information Sharing to Enhance Early Childhood Services

Area of Science:

• Social Science Research
• Public Health Policy
• Information Management

Background:

• Understanding information sharing is crucial for effective social service delivery.
• Identifying barriers to service access is key to improving family support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess stakeholder comfort levels with inter-agency information sharing.
• To identify barriers families face when accessing social services in Maryland.

Main Methods:

• Surveys and focus groups were conducted with 63 participants (aged 25-44).
• Participants represented diverse demographics across Maryland.
• Data collection focused on information sharing preferences and service access challenges.

Main Results:

• Most participants consented to sharing all data except Social Security numbers.
• One-third reported no barriers to service access.
• Two-thirds cited complex applications, technology issues, and self-advocacy needs as barriers.

Conclusions:

• Families are amenable to broad information sharing among early childhood providers.
• A unified, simplified application process is desired by families.
• Service access barriers are both logistical and cultural, requiring multifaceted solutions.