Resource Navigation in Primary Care During the First Year of Life: The StreetCred Economic Bundle

Area of Science:

• Public health and health services research
• Socioeconomic determinants of health
• Pediatric primary care interventions

Background:

• Public economic resources can mitigate poverty's health impacts but face access barriers, especially for marginalized groups.
• Pediatric primary care settings are ideal for addressing social determinants of health and connecting families to resources.
• Existing enrollment rates for programs like WIC and SNAP are often low among eligible families.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the design, implementation, and early outcomes of a clinically embedded 'economic bundle' program.
• To facilitate enrollment in multiple public economic resources for families with young children.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in improving economic stability for underserved pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• Development of a multi-component 'economic bundle' including SNAP, WIC, food pantries, tax prep, CSAs, PFML, and FSS.
• Embedded navigators within a pediatric primary care clinic to offer services during well-child visits.
• Retrospective review of program data over 14 months (April 2022-June 2023) for 311 families.

Main Results:

• Initial enrollment at newborn visits was low for most resources (e.g., WIC 31%, SNAP 23%, 529 CSA 1%).
• Significant increases in enrollment were observed by 6 months for eligible, initially unenrolled families (WIC 59%, SNAP 41%).
• The program demonstrated potential in connecting families to essential economic supports.

Conclusions:

• A clinically embedded 'economic bundle' is a promising strategy to enhance access to public economic resources.
• This model effectively supports families' economic stability during the critical first year of a child's life.
• Interventions integrated into routine pediatric care can address socioeconomic needs and improve health outcomes.