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New Families Center

A Good Idea

Description

The New Families Center is a response to the national call for universal health coverage for children. This program was founded in recognition of the link between learning and health. Student health is a precondition of quality learning. This collaborative effort between the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support and the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) targets new immigrant arrivals to the school district by integrating health assessment, immunization, insurance social work, and health care access navigation services into the school Welcome Center for new families.

Goal / Mission

2004 goals of the New Families Center include screening 1,600 children for eligibility in health coverage programs, enrolling 700 children in health care coverage programs, immunizing over 1,300 children; and serving 900 families in need of health care navigation services to help address individual barriers to getting health care.

Results / Accomplishments

Outcomes of these services include screening and enrolling families in health insurance programs, basic health assessment, and identifying a primary care provider for follow-up care. Newly added services assist families in addressing barriers to accessing health care services once they are connected with a health insurance program.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support
Primary Contact
Gretchen Musicant, Director, Public Health Initiatives
City Hall
350 South Fifth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 673-2301
gretchen.musicant@ci.minneapolis.mn.us
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/dhfs/
Topics
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support
Source
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Date of publication
2005
Date of implementation
1997
Location
Minneapolis, MN
For more details
Target Audience
Families, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Miami-Dade Matters