MATERNAL, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOMEVISITING GRANT PROGRAM - ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 500409 SAIPAN, MP 96950 PROJECT D...

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MATERNAL, INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOMEVISITING GRANT PROGRAM - ADDRESS: P.O. BOX 500409 SAIPAN, MP 96950 PROJECT DIRECTOR: YULINE C. FITIAL CONTACT NUMBERS: 670-664-8701/2 (VOICE) E-MAIL ADDRESS: YULINE.FITIAL@CHCC.HEALTH RECIPIENT NAME: COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (CNMI) PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THE H.O.M.E. VISITING PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE FAMILIES IN THE CNMI WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS AT-RISK WITH THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL HEALTH STATUS, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF COORDINATED AND COMPREHENSIVE HIGH-QUALITY VOLUNTARY, EVIDENCE BASED, EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING SERVICES. FAMILIES RESIDING IN AT-RISK COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO FACE CHALLENGES AND/OR BARRIERS WHEN SEEKING PRIMARY/PREVENTIVE SERVICES WHICH RESULT IN POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES. THE CHALLENGES INCLUDE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, LANGUAGE BARRIERS, CONFLICTING CULTURAL AND UPBRINGING BELIEFS, EDUCATION LESS THAN 12 YEARS, FAMILY PRIORITIES, LOW-INCOME LEVEL WITH HIGH COST OF LIVING, ETC. THE H.O.M.E. VISITING PROGRAM HAS IMPLEMENTED THE HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA (HFA) MODEL THAT WILL SYSTEMATICALLY HELP REDUCE ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME IMPROVE PROTECTIVE FACTORS SUCH AS WITH STRENGTHENED POSITIVE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP. THE CNMI H.O.M.E. VISITING PROGRAM IS REQUESTING FOR $1,058,860.00 AND AN ADDITIONAL $400,000.00 IN MATCHING FUNDS. GOAL(S) AND OBJECTIVES: • GOAL 1: PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE AND BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING. OBJECTIVE: BY SEPT 2026, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INFANTS NOT BREASTFED AT 6 MONTHS AMONG NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER MOTHERS ENROLLED PRENATALLY IN HOME VISITING PROGRAM BY 20% FROM THE PREVIOUS REPORTING YEAR. • GOAL 2: INCREASE WELL-CHILD VISIT RATES. OBJECTIVE: BY SEPTEMBER 2026, INCREASE THE PERCENTAGE OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER CHILDREN ENROLLED IN HOME VISITING PROGRAM WHO ARE UP TO DATE WITH THEIR WELL-CHILD VISITS BY 15% FROM THE PREVIOUS REPORTING YEAR. • GOAL 3: INCREASE DEPRESSION REFERRAL TO APPROPRIATE AGENCY. OBJECTIVE: BY SEPTEMBER 2026, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PRIMARY CAREGIVERS WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYED AND DID NOT COMPLETE ONE OR MORE SERVICE CONTACTS AFTER BEING REFERRED FOR DEPRESSION SERVICES FOLLOWING A POSITIVE SCREEN BY 25% FROM THE PREVIOUS REPORTING PERIOD. • GOAL 4: INCREASE PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION (PCI) USING A VALIDATED TOOL. OBJECTIVE: BY SEPTEMBER 2026, 75% OF TARGET CHILDREN ENROLLED RECEIVE AT-LEAST ONE PCI OBSERVATION. METHODOLOGY: THE H.O.M.E. VISITING PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL HEALTH STATUS, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF FAMILIES RESIDING IN AT-RISK COMMUNITIES. THE AT-RISK COMMUNITIES TO BE SERVED INCLUDE THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF SAIPAN, TINIAN AND ROTA. THE EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL IMPLEMENTED IN THE CNMI IS HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA (HFA) AND WILL BE THE ONLY HOME VISITING MODEL USED. THE TOTAL PROPOSED CASELOAD OF FAMILY SLOTS FY 2023 IS 200 AND FY 2024 IS 215. THE CURRENT NUMBER OF FAMILIES ENROLLED IS 162 (SAIPAN -137, TINIAN 16, AND ROTA – 9) FOR THE ENTIRE CNMI. COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL ENSURE THAT FAMILIES FACED WITH MULTIPLE NEEDS SUCH AS RESOURCES FOR HEALTH PROMOTION, SUPPORT, FAMILY ASSISTANCE, PREVENTIVE SERVICES, AND OVERALL ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES ARE BEING MET. KEY ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE LINKAGES AND REFERRAL NETWORKS TO OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS THAT THE FAMILIES COULD BENEFIT FROM INCLUDE: JOINT EFFORTS FOR CAPACITY BUILDING AMONG PROGRAM STAFF WHO MAKE UP THE CNMI EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM, OFFER EXTENDED SERVICES TO FAMILIES ON ROTA AND TINIAN WHO ARE SENT TO SAIPAN FOR DELIVERY, ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING FAMILIES’ HOUSING NEEDS, CONTINUING EDUCATION, JOB SEEKING ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE BURDEN AMONG FAMILIES WHO COMPLETE DUPLICATE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING.