Whitefoord Community Program

1. Whitefoord Community Program Veda Johnson, MD Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Emory University School of Medicine

2. Whitefoord Community Program • Community-based, community-driven organization that strives to empower residents of the Edgewood community to take charge of themselves, their children, and their community. • Mission: …‘working together with families and the community to ensure that every child has what he or she needs to succeed in school’. • Established in 1994 by the late Dr. George Brumley and Dr. Veda Johnson

3. Demographics • Located in the Edgewood community of Southeast Atlanta • High poverty, crime and substance abuse • Large #’s hard-working families • School average enrollment for Whitefoord and Coan is approx. 500 and 550 students respectively • 98% Free or Reduced lunch • 75% Medicaid and 10% Peach Care eligible

4. Community Needs • Increased Access to quality medical care • Chronic Health Problems • Asthma • Diabetes • Obesity • Youth violence • Teen Pregnancy • Substance Abuse • Mental Health Disorders

5. Community Needs… • Early Childhood Education • Afterschool Programs • Adult Literacy and GED instruction • Family Support Services • Social Services • Parenting • Adult Counseling

6. Planning and Implementation • Community identified and prioritized its’ needs • Collaborated with schools, parents, community leaders, community agencies, and potential funders to develop program(s) to address needs • Established advisory committees within schools and community to monitor and evaluate effectiveness of programs • Recruited community members onto Board of Directors toparticipate in governance of organization

7. Whitefoord Community Program • Created to address the needs of families as defined by the community • Located across the street from the elementary school in 5 converted houses and modulars • Components: • Child Development Program • Family Learning & Community Development Center • School Clinics

8. Child Development Program • Quality early childhood education for 74 children from 6 weeks to 4 years of age • Combines the resources of the state of Georgia’s Pre-Kindergarten program and the philosophy behind the Early Head Start and Head Start programs. • Culturally appropriate parenting sessions • Currently undergoing NAEYC accreditation

9. Family Learning & Community Development Center • Offers adult literacy, voluntary GED instruction, life skills and other community educational activities • After school and summer programs for students at Whitefoord Elementary and Coan Middle School • Intel Computer Club House • Whitefoord elementary after school program • Coan Bike Rite program • Summer Reading Program

10. Whitefoord Elementary and Sammye E. Coan School Clinics • Pediatric and adolescent primary care health clinics providing comprehensive health services for students and their pre-school and/or adolescent siblings • Initiated by the Dept of Pediatrics at Emory University Nov. 1994 • Removed the health care of children out of the institution and placed it into the community

11. Clinics…. • Goal : Increasing access to quality health care and improving the academic achievement of students • Address the physical, mental and emotional health of the child • ‘Care for the child in the context of family, home and community’ • Developed the Whitefoord Community Program, a community-based support program for families of children enrolled in the clinic

12. Clinic Services • Management of acute illnesses and injuries • Management of chronic illnesses (diabetes, HIV+, asthma, obesity) • Routine and sports physicals • Immunizations • Dental care

13. Services cont’d • Mental Health Assessments and Counseling • Psycho-educational Testing • Social services • Referral to Sub-specialist • 24 hr. coverage

14. Staffing • Pediatricians/Medical Director • Mid-levelProviders (NP/PA) • RN/Clinic Manager • Medical Asst • Dentist and Dental Asst • Social Worker/Mental Health Providers • Health Educator • Clerical Staff

15. Accomplishments • Increased access to medical and dental health care • Provided medical care to over 4500 students since 1995 • Medical home to over 1200 children • High clinic enrollment (95%) and utilization • Increased immunization rates for 2 year olds • Increased parental involvement • Reduced cost to the state’s Medicaid program

16. Accomplishments… • Improved school attendance/?performance • Every child in school receives health education instruction on drug and substance abuse, violence prevention, safety, general health, and nutrition • Improved health outcomes for children with chronic illnesses (e.g. asthma, diabetes) • Increased symptom free days for asthmatics • Stable glucose levels

17. Success stories….”We measure success one child at a time”… • Diagnosed early staged brain tumor in 3rd grader who is expected to have a full recovery • Early detection of a genitourinary deformity in a 9 year old which was successfully corrected • Reduced emergency room use and hospitalization of students with asthma

18. Success Stories… • Through on-site counseling and support, facilitated the recovery of many emotionally troubled children • “A man’s spirit will sustain his infirmities, but a wounded spirit who can bear it?” • Witnessed several challenged families assume proper responsibility for their children

19. Whitefoord and Coan Childhood Healthy Lifestyle Program • Observed increased prevalence of obesity in school clinics • School-wide assessment of problem revealed: • The percentage of overweight students (BMI [Body Mass Index] >95%) at Whitefoord and Coan - approximately 17 % and 24.9% respectively • The percentage of at-risk students (BMI 85-95%) - 19.5% and 24% respectively • The purpose of project: • To establish a school-wide health promotion/obesity prevention program and a weight loss/fitness program for overweight students enrolled in the Whitefoord and Coan Clinics.

20. Implementation • Obesity prevention and health promotion • Identified curricula for school wide obesity prevention and fitness promotion • Take 10 – elementary school • Planet Health – middle school • Weight Reduction • Recruit at-risk students into weight reduction program • Obtained baseline BMI’s, health and nutritional status, labs ( lipids, glucose and insulin) • Conduct twice weekly exercise classes and twice monthly nutritional classes

21. Results • Implemented Take 10 in the elementary school and will implement Planet Health in middle school next month. • Enrolled 52 Students into weight reduction program • 95% with BMI’s > 95% ile. • 61% with fasting elevated fasting lipids • 43% demonstrating some degree of insulin resistance • Conducted first of 3 families dinners to enhance family involvement • 22 families attended with a total of 60 participants

22. Barriers • Parental Involvement • 20% of middle school parents attended parent meeting • 70% of elementary school parents attended • Recruitment of students into weight reduction program • Fear of ridicule by other students • Motivation for students to attend sessions on regular basis and to comply with program • Teachers buy-in to conduct Take 10 • Additional responsibilities interfere with teachers’ loaded schedule • Difficulty in conducting school wide sessions in middle school • Class schedules do not include health education on all grade levels.