Healthy Families Montgomery Celebrates Ten Years of Service
BETHESDA, Md., Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Child abuse and neglect can be
virtually eliminated when certain risk factors -- such as parental stress,
maternal depression or a parent's social isolation -- are reduced, according
to a new 10-year study released today by the Family Services Agency (FSA). The
study tracked more than 600 families who participated in FSA's Healthy
Families Montgomery program over the past ten years -- a program which
provides in-home services to first time parents, helping them improve their
child rearing skills and become more self sufficient.
"Providing support to high-risk families is absolutely critical to
ensuring the health of our county's most vulnerable children," said Thom Harr,
Executive Director of the Family Services Agency. "Research consistently
shows that child abuse and neglect are linked to numerous long-term physical
and mental health problems. This study shows that Healthy Families Montgomery
is working -- that's great news for all of us."
Nationwide, more than 900,000 children are victims of abuse and neglect,
with an estimated 1,500 child fatalities -- a rate of just over four
fatalities each day. Nearly 80% of the children killed are younger than four.
In its ten year history, there have been only six cases of founded child
maltreatment, and all of these were neglect. The study demonstrates that HFM
is not only achieving positive outcomes with its high-risk families but is
also meeting or exceeding county, state and national rates for the general
population. Specifically:
-- The program successfully linked 99% of target children and 100% of
mothers with medical providers. Nearly all mothers enrolled in the
program (97%) gave birth to babies with healthy birth weights.
-- A full 80% of mothers completed their postpartum visit, resulting in
the prevention of repeat births within two years of the target child's
birth for 92% of all mothers and 100% of teens.
-- A full 95% of target children received the recommended schedule of
immunizations, surpassing the state and national rates of 78%.
-- And 96% of target children met developmental milestones, providing
strong evidence of the program's ability to impact environmental
factors in developmental delays.
HFM is highly effective at promoting self-sufficiency among mothers, which
is key to preventing depression and stress -- both major risk factors for
child abuse. For example, among program participants, the number of working
moms went from 25% to 48%. Ninety-four percent either maintained stable
housing or improved their housing status.
According to the study, the most successful HFM participants are likely to
be Hispanic, with Spanish as the primary language, and become high school
graduates or continue their education while enrolled in the program. However,
the most successful participants who ultimately graduate from the program are
also likely to have the highest risk at program entry in the areas of social
isolation, depression, and unsafe homes.
HFM, an accredited Healthy Families America program, serves first-time
parents who are faced with an array of challenges which may include: limited
education, maternal depression, insufficient knowledge of normal child
development, poverty, substance abuse issues, limited self-sufficiency, or who
experienced abuse or neglect as a child. The program is set up to help
families attain self-sufficiency and confidence as a parent via an on-going
goal setting process. The home visitor further supports the family with child
development education and linkage to community resources.
The Healthy Families Montgomery Ten Year Longitudinal study was conducted
by Donna D. Klagholz, Ph.D. & Associates, LLC. For a copy of the study,
contact Janet Curran at HFM, 610 East Diamond Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg,
MD 20877.
About the Family Services Agency
From newborns to adults, the Family Services Agency, Inc., an affiliate of
the Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Foundation, provides high-quality services to
foster health and well-being in the home, school and community. FSA offers
educational and child development services as well as health and behavioral
health for children and families. As the oldest non-profit organization
headquartered in Montgomery County, FSA has responded to the growing and
changing needs of the community and will be celebrating its centennial
anniversary in 2008. For more information, visit
www.familyservicesagency.org.
SOURCE Family Services Agency
Wendy Enderson of Family Services Agency, +1-301-840-2000,
endersonw@familyservicesagency.org
