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WHAT WE DO ::
Fulfilling our Mission
To fulfill its mission, CHIP uses
teams that visit families in their homes and develop relationships
by building on the positive and not focusing on the negative.
Each team consists of a Family Intervention Specialist (a
specially trained lay home visitor or FIS) and a community
health Registered Nurse. Many times the FIS comes from a background
similar to the families she serves. Our FISs are impressive
women who not only understand the culture of CHIP families
but are also highly skilled to effect gradual change. The
FIS instructs and models life and parenting skills, assists
in learning to use community resources and helps parents learn
ways to solve life’s problems.
The RN is a key component of the home visiting
model because she provides critical health and developmental
assessments, teaches healthy habits and positive parenting,
and coordinates the family’s health care. Early detection
and intervention for developmental delays and identification
of chronic health issues is vital to the future success of
the child. Developmental assessments are conducted using the
Denver II Developmental Screening Tool.
Our families work with their RN-FIS team
for an average of 2 years. The range can be anywhere from
1-5 years. A typical caseload for a team is 25 families with
approximately 60 children. A team averages two home visits
a month per family in addition to multiple other contacts
(e.g., phone calls, transports, and third party contacts on
the family’s behalf) each month. To supplement the team,
CHIP also employs a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
(LCSW) to provide mental health assessments and counseling
to families that need it. CHIP also employs two van
drivers who transport clients to and from social service visits,
medical appointments and other agencies.
Initiatives
We have several different program focus
areas in addition to our core CHIP services. These
include:
Asthma Initiative
Unique in the area because of our concentration on preschool
children. Works with families on reducing ER visits and
use of maintenance medications and asthma action plans.
Hispanic Initiative
Core service delivery to the growing Spanish speaking population
in the southern part of Chesterfield County. We employ one
of the only certified medical translators in the area to
lead this effort.
Earliest Beginnings
Focuses on families with children aged birth to three years
old. Emphasizes early childhood development and parenting
skills using Dr. T. Berry Brazelton’s Touchpoints Framework
with an indigent population.
Partnership for Families Northside
This initiative is funded by the Robins Foundation, with
a goal of ensuring that parents in North Richmond are successful
in preparing their children for school. CHIP is an
original investor council member.
Raising a Reader
Focuses on early reading and incorporates use of the public
library system. In this project we work closely with the
United Way and Success By 6®.
Managed Care Initiative
Contractual managed care agreements to provide services
to young women with high-risk pregnancies and families facing
chronic asthma.
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of Greater Richmond 
