Office of Rural Health Policy Grants - West Virginia
Rural Health Outreach Grants
D04RH00549
Community Actions of South Eastern
West Virginia
Community Connections, Inc.
307 Federal Street, Suite 305
Bluefield, West Virginia 24701
Phone: (304) 324-0456 Fax: (304) 327-7776
Fiscal Year 2004
Funding Amount $196,796
Keyword(s): Child abuse, Home health, Health education (parenting)
Healthy Families Mercer County, which began providing services in 1999, proposes to continue a highly successful home visiting health program, expanding services to additional low-income families in the rural area. Healthy Families Mercer County is based on the Healthy Families America model. The Healthy Families America Initiative, which was launched in 1992 by Prevent Child Abuse America in partnership with Ronald McDonald Children's Charities, endorses a comprehensive approach to home visiting, including information and access to health services; parenting education; intensive services tailored to the family's needs; close partnership with local public and private organizations; and the maintenance of high quality, consistent services.
The target population for the Healthy Families Mercer County program is first-time parents and pregnant teens, with a focus on serving the most challenged of the challenged: those families with children at risk of abuse and neglect who traditionally "fall through the cracks." Mercer County has high rates of teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, juvenile delinquency, family violence and dropout rates, all of which limit the opportunity for the children and youth of Mercer County to obtain a healthy and secure future. The target population is 69 percent Caucasian, 29 percent African American, 1 percent American Indian, 1 percent Hispanic and 1 percent Asian/Pacific Islander.
Access barriers to services include a high child poverty rate and the highest caseload in the state of child abuse and neglect cases; a lack of knowledge of available resources; and the geographic isolation of the communities and lack of public transportation. Parts of Mercer County are considered medically underserved. There are Health Professional Shortage Areas in the eastern and northeastern sections of the county as well as in the western communities of Mercer County.
The network partners are Community Action of South Eastern West Virginia, the lead applicant, the West Virginia Women's Infants and Children (WIC) Program, Princeton Community Hospital, Bluefield Regional Medical Center, Mercer County Health Department and Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center.