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Communities Caring for Children

An Effective Practice

Description

Communities Caring for Children (CCC) is a community-based public health nursing program to improve infant immunization in rural Minnesota through the use of a regional registry and a reminder system. Before the implementation of CCC, only 58% of 2-year-olds in rural counties of MN were immunized. The CCC program includes educational campaigns using public media and outreach to health providers, WIC clinics, and health professional and community groups. The program actively enrolls new mothers in the CCC program and registry. Enrollees receive newsletters two weeks before immunizations or well-child exams are due. The newsletters include information specific to the age of the infant or child, with information about the importance of immunizations, the seriousness of infectious diseases, and other child safety information. Four weeks after the newsletter is sent, enrollees receive a call from a public health nurse to encourage child health care, answer questions, and address barriers to health care.

Goal / Mission

The goal of Communities Caring for Children is to increase the number of infants and children who receive immunizations on schedule.

Results / Accomplishments

In a telephone survey, CCC enrollees reported less perceived danger in infant immunizations than non-enrollees. Participants in the program were more likely to have access to infant immunization reminder cards. CCC enrollees reported significantly higher immunization compliance for their infants than non-enrollees (p = 0.022).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Minnesota School of Public health Maternal and Child Health Program
Primary Contact
Wendy Hellerstedt, MPH, PHD
Maternal and Child Health Program
Division of Health Management and Policy
School of Public Health
University of Minnesota
Box 97 Mayo
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612) 626-2207
helle023@umn.edu
http://www.epi.umn.edu/mch/
Topics
Health / Immunizations & Infectious Diseases
Health / Children's Health
Health / Maternal, Fetal & Infant Health
Organization(s)
University of Minnesota School of Public health Maternal and Child Health Program
Source
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Date of publication
1999
Date of implementation
1991
Geographic Type
Rural
Location
Minnesota
For more details
Target Audience
Children