EHS program for abused babies expands
With major funding by the US Department of Health & Human Services currently available for expanding Early Head Start services across the country, Community Services for Children (CSC), Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Hospital, and Lehigh County Children and Youth Services are working together to expand CSC’s Early Head Start center-based program. The program supports babies and toddlers who are at high risk of experiencing developmental challenges due to the adverse effects of being exposed to drugs and/or alcohol prenatally in addition to potential abuse or neglect.
CSC’s Early Head Start center-based program, called SafeStart, has been in operation since 2003 in Allentown’s east side on the Donley Children’s Campus. The SafeStart program is the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania.
SafeStart helps these young children achieve health and wellness through rigorous therapeutic intervention five days a week, year round. At age 3, most transfer into a Head Start classroom for an additional two years of early intervention. Twelve years of data indicate that 85% achieve growth and development milestones typical for their age and 75% are symptom-free of the effects of drugs and alcohol. This two-generation program also helps parents or other care givers achieve stability in their lives and the ability to nurture a healthy child. With healthy outcomes, the cost to schools and social agencies is radically reduced.
The first location is able to serve 40 children, and this expansion will open a second site for an additional 32 children. The expansion, which is currently in development and being implemented as a home visiting program, is being outfitted for their classroom space and will become an open center-based classroom in the winter of 2015-16. The renovations include the creation of 4 classrooms in the former School of Nursing building at LVH- 17th Street in Allentown.
Under an agreement with LVHN, the program is also supported by funding from the US Dept of Health & Human Services and Lehigh County Children & Youth. At the east side location, Northampton County Children & Youth also help support the program along with Lehigh County, the federal government, and private grants/donations.
“As a children’s hospital we are equipped to provide specialized care to the region’s sickest children,” said J. Nathan Hagstrom, MD, chair, pediatrics. “Yet we also have the desire to create health in the hopes that fewer children will end up in the hospital. Working with partners like CSC we learn how to more effectively help these children to be as healthy as they can be.”
In 2013, LVHN pediatric residents began an educational rotation with SafeStart children and families at their east side location. This educational program will continue in coming years at LVH-17th Street.