Case Manager-in-Training Program

1. Case Manager-in-Training Program Visiting Nurse Services Des Moines Healthy Start/ Empowerment Project Electronic Poster Presentation by: Julie Baker Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

2. Purpose of the Case Manager-in-Training Program • To recruit, train and retain bi-lingual and/or bi-cultural case managers to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate case management services to meet the needs of the immigrant and minority populations in Polk County, Iowa. • To provide case managers for diverse populations to assist in eliminating ethnic and racial disparities in perinatal health outcomes for mothers, infants and their families. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

3. Funding for the Case Manager-in-Training Program • Polk County Empowerment • Demonstration Project to Recruit & Retain Health Workers Who Provide Physical, Mental and Behavioral Health Services in Iowa through the Iowa Department of Public Health Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

4. Case Manager-in-Training Project Overview Case Managers-in-Training are: • Employed by Visiting Nurse Services (VNS) and work in the Des Moines Healthy Start/Empowerment Project. • Attend a local University to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field with registration fees, tuition and book costs paid for by VNS. • Participate in all required trainings for Healthy Start/ Empowerment Case Managers. • Participate in work experiences beginning with outreach and moving from low-risk to high-risk case management. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

5. Case Manager-in-Training Qualifications • Associates Degree or equivalent college credit hours preferred. • Two years of experience in human services preferred. • Bi-cultural and/or bi-lingual as applicable to target populations with preference for African American, Arabic-Speaking, Spanish-Speaking or Vietnamese-Speaking applicants. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

6. Visiting Nurse Services“Dedicated to Promoting Health in Our Community” • Established in 1908, when Luella Bristol—the first public health nurse in Des Moines—founded the Visiting Nurse’s Association of Des Moines to help residents in Polk County, Iowa. • Original mission—established to address infant mortality in Des Moines with Visiting Nurse • Still VNS’ mission today through Healthy Start/Empowerment. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

7. Visiting Nurse ServicesStaff VNS has always understood that health problems and social needs cannot be easily separated. For this reason, VNS is comprised of: • Nurses • Social Workers • Public Health Consultants • Interpreters • Outreach Workers Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

8. Visiting Nurse ServicesWITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY VNS Program Areas: • Pregnant Women & Families • Infants, Children & Families • Adults & Seniors • The Community Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

9. What is the Healthy Start/Empowerment Project? Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

10. Healthy Start • Healthy Start is a federally funded program designed to reduce infant mortality, with a focus on addressing health disparities among ethnic minorities. • Healthy Start participants must live in one of seven zip codes in Polk County, Iowa (zip codes are chosen based on high infant mortality rates) and be pregnant or have a child under the age of two. • Approximately 150 participants receive Healthy Start case management services each month. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

11. Empowerment • Polk County Empowerment funding was awarded to VNS as a result of services and collaborations established by Healthy Start. • As a result of expansion, an additional 225 families receive case management services each month with Empowerment funding. • Services are provided in all of Polk County, Iowa to families with children up to six years of age through Empowerment funding. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

12. Key Components of the Healthy Start/Empowerment Project • Outreach & Client Recruitment • Case Management • Health Education • Interconceptional Care • Depression Screening & Referral • Consortium • Services provided through the two different funding streams are identical, with the exception of geographic location and ages of children. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

13. Outreach & Client Recruitment • Outreach specialists/interpreters provide interpretation and translation in Arabic, Nuba, Bendi, Spanish, and Vietnamese. • Transportation provided to participants. • Child care available for Healthy Start/Empowerment activities. • Intake/Access Staff provide immediate linkages to families. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

14. Case Management • 26 Case Managers located in 11 agencies. • 3 Case Managers bilingual in English and Spanish. • 1 Case Manager trilingual in English, Spanish, and French. • 2 Case Managers bilingual in English and Vietnamese. • 1 Case Manager trilingual in English, Arabic, and Nuer. • 1 Case Manager maintains a caseload dedicated to African American families residing in the Healthy Start project area. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

15. Case Management • Case managers provide: • Home visits • Prenatal, post partum, and parenting education • Child development screening & education • Perinatal depression screening & referral • Listening Visits • Links to other community resources Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

16. Health Education • The Stork’s Nest provides prenatal and parenting classes to pregnant and parenting women residing in the project area and across Polk County. • Intake/Access Nursing Staff are available to provide health teaching to case managers and participants during home visits. • Health education topics are also presented during Consumer, Leadership, and Support Groups. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

17. Interconceptional Care • Comprehensive interconceptional screening with every postpartum woman within the first month, and at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months postpartum. • Intensive focus on postpartum care, family planning, pregnancy spacing, perinatal depression, parenting, child health, and child development. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

18. Depression Screening & Referral • Various support and therapy groups are offered for Healthy Start/Empowerment participants facilitated in Arabic, English, Spanish, Vietnamese & English. • Referrals for participants to receive further depression assessment based on screening outcomes. • Individual or family counseling facilitated by a Mental Health Counselor with VNS; services of a contracted psychiatrist are also available to participants. • Implementation of Supportive Listening & Problem Solving Intervention by case managers. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

19. Consortium • Community Consortium Meetings average over 38 attendees at each meeting. • Consumer Consortium Meetings average 26 families at each meeting. • Consumer Leadership Group enhances the ability of participants to assume leadership positions within the project. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

20. Phase One for Case Managers-in-Training • Receive orientation to VNS & the provision of Outreach Services. • Provide full-time outreach services (including interpretation and translation as applicable) in conjunction with established, professional case managers in the Healthy Start/Empowerment Project. • Enroll part-time (minimum of 6 credit hours per semester) in Baccalaureate Program with local University. • Receive academic support from an Academic Liaison (not their direct supervisor) employed through VNS. • Receive supervision from the Family Support/Case Management Team Leader (also supervisor of case managers). • Participate in Basic Interpreter & Outreach Services Trainings. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

21. Phase Two for Case Managers-in-Training In Phase Two of the project, the Case Manager-in-Training provides limited case management services to lower risk families upon completion of the following: • Academic credits equivalent to an Associates Degree; • All Healthy Start training/in-services required of case managers; • 12 months of outreach/interpretation services and approval of the supervisor The Case Manager-in-Training continues: • Academic support with an Academic Liaison • Supervision • Participation in Healthy Start/Empowerment training as applicable. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

22. Phase Three for Case Managers-in-Training In Phase Three of the project, the Case Manager-in-Training: • Continues academic courses to complete a Bachelors Degree • Transitions from limited case management services with lower risk families to medium risk and finally full case management services with higher risk families • Continues to receive academic support from the Academic Liaison • Continues supervision as a case manager • Participates in Healthy Start/Empowerment training as applicable Upon completion of a Bachelors Degree: • Transitions to a case manager position to provide case management services through VNS or another agency contracting to provide Healthy Start/Empowerment services • Provides case management services in the Healthy Start Project Area and Polk County for a period of at least the number of terms/years of participation in the Case Manager-in-Training Program • Transition opportunities into specialized positions based on individual interests, skills, or program needs are also available Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

23. Healthy Start/Empowerment Case Manager Required Trainings • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training (CPR) • First Aid • Universal Precautions • Iowa Mandatory Child & Dependent Adult Abuse Reporter • Family Development Specialist Training & Certification • Florida State Healthy Pregnancy Healthy Baby Curriculum • Growing Great Kids Curriculum • Ages & Stages Questionnaire & Developmental Screening • Immunization Periodicity Schedule • Perinatal Depression Screening & EPDS • Supportive Listening & Problem Solving Intervention • Cultural Sensitivity & Competency • Community Resources • Documentation & Data Entry • Best Practices Manual • Breastfeeding • Perinatal & Interconceptional Care Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

24. The First Case Managers-in-Training:The Inaugural Class Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

25. Mai Le • Mai’s Accomplishments: • First Graduate in March 2007 • Bi-lingual in Vietnamese & English • Employed as of March 2007 as a full-time Healthy Start case manager with Des Moines Child Guidance Center • In June 2007, Mai completed the highest number of home visits for families on her caseload out of all 26 case managers. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

26. Des Moines Child Guidance Center Des Moines Child Guidance Center is a state-accredited community mental health center for children in Iowa. For nearly 70 years, Child Guidance Center has been providing a wide range of child-focused and family-centered mental health treatment and prevention services. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

27. Melissa Williams • Melissa’s Accomplishments: • Graduated in February 2008 • Completed Family Team Decision-Making Facilitator Training & Certification through the Iowa Department of Human Services. • Provides Co-Facilitation & Facilitation in the Minority Youth & Family Initiative for African American Families at risk of having their child(ren) removed from their custody. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

28. Batul Chol • Batul’s Accomplishments: • Second Graduate • Trilingual in Arabic, Nuer & English • Employed as of April 2007 as a full-time Healthy Start/Empowerment case manager located at Oakridge Early Enrichment Center • Assisted the Oakridge Early Enrichment Center in enhancing services and engaging Sudanese families not otherwise served in the Oakridge Neighborhood Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

29. Oakridge Early Enrichment Center The mission of Oakridge Neighborhood is to provide safe, secure, and supportive housing in a way that assists children, adults and families in becoming self sufficient and self-reliant. Founded in 1975, Oakridge Neighborhood Services provides affordable housing, affordable childcare, youth programming, transportation, education, and case management. Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

30. Case Managers-in-Training:The Next Class • Ekram Kachu • Completed a Bachelor’s Degree from Beruit University in Theology • Speaks Arabic and English Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

31. Case Managers-in-Training:The Next Class Vanessa Ruiz • Earned an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and has experience working with women in a domestic violence shelter • Speaks Spanish & English Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

32. Lessons Learned • Wide Community Support & Recognition • Partnerships with Higher Learning Institutions • Important Role of VNS Academic Liaison • Mentor Relationship of Professional Case Manager to Case Manager-in-Training • Community Gains from Diverse Workers to Serve a Diverse Population • Development of Educational and Case Management Skills at an Individual Pace with Individualized Support • Positive Impact of Increased Earning Potential Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659

33. Program Sustainability & Expansion • One Nurse Case Manager-in-Training Position • Parent Educator-in-Training Program • Collaboration with Area Community College to Utilize Financial Assistance in Parent Educator-in-Training Program • On-going Opportunities to Hire Diverse Case Managers-in-Training and Case Managers Based on Community Needs & Demographics Case Manager-In-Training Program 1659