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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealthy Beginnings Letter13,E,43. April 18, 2014 Judith M. Ure Management Analyst Department of Administrative Services Deschutes County Dear Judith and County Commissioners: NNI 12 -Point Kid Inspections Deschutes County Healthy Beginnings, Inc. has had a long history of partnership with Deschutes County. Indeed Deschutes County is even part of our name! We exist in large part due to this partnership. It is in consideration of our shared values for children and families in Deschutes County that I am requesting that Healthy Beginnings be considered for County Service Partner funding. My reasons are three fold: 1) Healthy Beginnings provides a key mandated service to young children in Deschutes County — Child Find. And although we do receive a small amount of support from the three school districts in Deschutes County — the investment is only about 4% of our budget. Over the last few years, HB has increased services in Deschutes County and to vulnerable populations — with no increase. In fact HB is embarking on a new expansion reaching out and screening children in preschools and daycares with a custom screening we are calling 4 Before 5 (four screening assessments — development, behavior, hearing, and vision). Our program continues to expand serving more children in Deschutes County — with no stable funding stream. 2) Healthy Beginnings is the only program in Deschutes County (and now Central Oregon) that provides free developmental and universal screenings to children with no eligibility criteria and at no cost to the families. We are often the first step to access for needed health, education, and behavioral services for young children and their families. In fact HB is the only program like this in the state — and it started here in Deschutes County. 3) Healthy Beginnings began its work through collaboration between the Deschutes County Health Department, Head Start, and the local school districts. Too many children were being missed and were starting kindergarten with barriers for success. Our original Board was lead by Dan Peddycord, at the time the director of Deschutes County Health Department and the program has worked closely with both Health Department program and Head Start since its inception. We maintain close ties with all school districts as we are under the umbrella of the High Desert Education Service District. Healthy Beginnings' mission states that we believe that all children should enter kindergarten healthy and prepared to learn. Our work fosters healthy, nurtured children, families and communities by bringing accessible physical, developmental and behavioral screenings to children from birth through age five. As you know, HB provides early childhood health and developmental screenings, referral, and follow-up services for all children in Central Oregon, aged birth through five years, at no cost to the families. Without these screenings and referrals, many health and developmental concerns would neither be identified nor treated and resources would remain unknown to parents. Sadly, research shows that many children do not have their concerns identified until 2 years after the child has started school. The damage and difficulty 1029 NW 14"' Street, Suite 102 • Bend, Oregon 97701 • Ph: 541-383-6357 ♦ Fax: 383-5917 www.myhb.org Community Partner caused by these lost early years are devastating to a child's development. Healthy Beginnings (HB) is the only comprehensive community screening program in all of Oregon and our research indicates that there are only 9 similar programs nationwide. In the past 20 years the program has provided screening services for to nearly 8,500 children identifying 6,500 concerns. HB's follow-up indicates that nearly 70% of the families receive services. HB's satisfaction rate with parents and volunteers is 98%. HB has received local, state and national recognition. Currently HB offers 18 screenings per year in Central Oregon. Fourteen of these screenings are in Deschutes County. HB provides these community screening clinics in Bend, Redmond, Sunriver, Sisters, and La Pine. With requests from neighboring counties, HB recently added 2 additional screenings in Prineville (Crook County) and 2 clinics in Madras (Jefferson County). This expansion increased community service by 25% offering service to potentially 500+ children and families throughout the region. The program's impressive volunteer corps, (over 400 volunteers) community partners and consistent financial support demonstrates that Healthy Beginnings is respected and admired by the community we serve. One of HB's chief strengths is its collaboration with other organizations providing significant in-kind staff, training, materials, equipment, facilities, office space, and marketing. Collaborations include: Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education, Neighborlmpact-Head Start, Local School Districts, St. Charles Medical Center, Mosaic Medical, County Health Departments, local colleges and universities, community dental professionals, speech therapists, and many others. Through this network, HB has developed a reciprocal referral system, offering a seamless system of assessment to children and education to parents as they transition through these services. The High Desert Education Service District acts as HB's fiscal agent and provides easy access for referrals to other HDESD programs including Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education. I am enclosing a copy of the program's Bear Facts and although it represents the efforts in all three counties, Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook, please know that the vast majority of our work is in Deschutes County — and any dollars supported from the county is designated to support the work in Deschutes County. We are working diligently to gain support from all three counties through requests of their County Commissioners and through grants and fundraising efforts. I am available if you have any questions and would welcome any chance I have to meet with you to provide additional information on this program and service. Deschutes County can be proud of this program — it was designed and initiated by caring county employees and serves a unique role in our community. Thank you again for all you do to support the health and wellness of children throughout Central Oregon. Sincerely, c l 4 i).t , Holly Remer Executive Director Healthy Beginnings Bear Facts Since 1994: • Over 8,000 children have been screened throughout Central Oregon • Nearly 6,500 potential concerns have been identified • Almost $1,500,000 in-kind volunteer hours have been donated • Over 850 volunteers have been involved Last School Year (2012-13): Conducted 18 screening clinics throughout Central Oregon • Screened 539 children at no cost to the families • Screened 21 children at shelters in Deschutes County • Provided 497 parents with information and education on health, early childhood development, behavior, car seat safety and literacy • 86% of these children were identified as high risk • Provided 772 referrals on behalf of 420 children ✓ 95 Medical, OHP and Immunization referrals ✓ 74 Developmental or Speech referrals ✓ 142 Dental referrals ✓ 146 Vision referrals ✓ 40 Hearing referrals ✓ 85 Behavior referrals ✓ 43 Car Seat Safety referrals ✓ 33 Nutrition referrals ✓ 112 Re -screen referrals • 49 children had no medical insurance • 269 children were on the Oregon Health Plan • 55 children had no primary health care provider • 240 children had never been to a dentist • 117 children were referred to us from an "at -risk" agency • Assisted 239 families with Healthy Kids Insurance applications Estimated Program Cost: • Under $350 per child Estimated Value of Services: • $3,000 per child Estimated Value of Early Intervention: • Beyond measure Healthy Beginnings is a 501 (c) (3) ID # 93-1234708 www.myhb.org Revised July 2013 12 -point screening Includes: Speech Nutrition Motor Dental Concepts Health Infant Development Behavior Vision Car Seat & Bicycle Safety Hearing Red Cross & General Information Healthy Beginnings Bear Necessities • A year's supply of permission forms, client folders, & referral packets used at each screening $150 • Screening supplies for the year: Health Station $250 Dental Station $250 • Sponsor one child at a screening $250 • A year's supply of assessment tools and protocols for the 4 developmental stations .$400 • Annual Sponsorship of the quarterly HB Newsletter $500 (Special recognition in all newsletters — mailed to over 800 program supporters) • Annual Sponsorship of one station $1,000 (Special recognition at the station all year) • Sponsorship of one community Screening $1,500 (Special recognition at the screening and in our public service announcements) Bear Niceties • Office supplies & equipments-., • Web Site Support 6- ti • Marketing Assistance ♦ New computer ♦ Storage space ♦ Postage stamps �t3p • Stipends for Interpreters www.myhb.org