Annual Report 2016-17

CHILDREN’S HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIP OF NRV (CHIP) CHIP of NRV provided 158 families (269 children) with services including access to health care, case management, and partent education. The NRCA Children’s Health Improvement Partnership of the New River Valley (CHIP of NRV) partners with families to create a nurturing home environment and promote the health and well-being of children in our community. CHIP provides services to families

with children age birth through six. The program model includes accessing medical and dental homes, promoting successful parenting through use of the nationally recognized evidence-based Parents as Teachers curriculum, and ensuring parents understand and follow physician recommendations. CHIP staff members also help families set and attain health and self-sufficiency goals, assist with transportation, conduct developmental screenings, and help families access other community-based services to help meet the multifaceted needs of families. All services emphasize prevention, early intervention, school readiness and family empowerment. CHIP links families with medical and dental homes where children receive consistent and comprehensive care in familiar settings. Enrolled families receive regular home visits from CHIP Nurses who provide health education, medical case management, dental varnishes, and early screening for developmental delays. The CHIP Nurse supports the child’s physician ensuring access to preventative health care and other necessary medical services.

A vital component of the CHIP program is the Parents as Teachers (PAT) parent education curriculum. All CHIP Family Educators are nationally-certified trainers. PAT drives home the message that parents are their children’s first and best teachers.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT - CHIP Baby & Toddler Shops: Parenting can be hard work, and sometimes it is a struggle to make ends meet. The CHIP Baby and Toddler Shops help by providing needed infant and toddler items at no charge. Parents receive necessary items such as clothing, diapers, shoes, and coats to help meet the needs of their children. CHIP Baby and Toddler Shops expanded throughout the New River Valley in recent years. Unfortunately, the program coordination funding ended; however, NRCA committed to continuing the community Shops. CHIP assumed responsibility for Shop operations in Floyd and Giles Counties, while local volunteer groups offered to sponsor the Shops in Montgomery and Pulaski Counties. Community donations and volunteer support entirely fund the operations. During the 2016-17 year, the Giles Baby Shop received a $2000 grant from the Carilion Clinic.

Trained volunteers that care about families are the heart and soul of the CHIP Baby and Toddler Shops . Volunteers often stay after closing to clean, organize, or meet clients for after-hours emergency needs. CHIP parents also want to give back to the community. Many use the clothing, wash, and return items for other families. While parents do not need to be part of CHIP to access the Shops, volunteers encourage home visiting as a helpful resource. When a family visits a CHIP Floyd or Giles Shop for the first time, the parent is invited to complete a short information sheet so that a CHIP staff member can make contact later to provide information about CHIP home visiting and other available resources in the community. Home visiting is a powerful tool that promotes healthy families and supports parents in their efforts to become self-sufficient. More than 200 families benefited from the Shops in the calendar year 2016.

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