Building Blocks: Shaping a Lifetime of Good Health

From: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle (BBBST)

Need: Of children currently served by BBBST, 95% are living below poverty level. BBBST case workers report hearing of children using emergency rooms for care, missing meals, having a high number of sick days away from school, suffering from tooth decay and experiencing childhood obesity.

Purpose: The purpose of the Building Blocks access to care program seeks to ensure that parents and caregivers of children enrolled in the BBBST program are informed advocates for their children's health and become actively engaged with their children in establishing a healthy lifestyle focused on prevention.

Target Population: An estimated 575 Wake County children will participate in the BBBST program in 2009, with an 8-10% increase in following years.

How: Building Blocks expands the existing BBBST mentoring program to add a focus of health to the "Big" and "Little" relationships. The Building Blocks access to care program is one component of a multi-tiered approach that will also aim to promote physical activity and nutrition. The access to care component involves these specific activities:

1. Parents/caregivers will receive information about free or reduced-cost health care services in the community.
2. Parents/caregivers will be offered informational/educational sessions on children's health insurance plans available in NC.
3. Children will receive periodic health screenings such as vision, dental, and hearing offered through medical provider partners.

Outcomes:

1. Reduce children's sick days away from school.
2. Increase knowledge of parents/caregivers regarding health resources in Wake County.
3. Increase confidence of parents/caregivers in navigating the health care system in Wake County.
4. Increase enrollment in public health insurance programs.

Cost / Term: $250,000 over three years. $90,720 in Year 1.

Start - End Date: January 2009 - December 2011