| OUR RESULTS ::
The children and parents CHIP serves
face complex obstacles to becoming healthy competent adults
and contributing members of society. They are referred to
CHIP, often as a last resource, by Richmond, Chesterfield,
and Henrico social services, Head Start, other area pre-schools
and local hospitals. In addition, about one-fourth of our
referrals come from word of mouth.
The children live far below the poverty
level, the majority being raised by single, young mothers
who have not finished high school. Before enrollment in the
program, their history reflects that typically most do not
receive routine medical care and immunizations. Furthermore
most do not benefit from preschool programs like Head Start.
Our families often struggle with substance abuse, mental illness,
and violence – domestic, neighborhood and general safety
issues.
In addition to being poor, most of the mothers
we work with have never been taught how to raise a child.
Thus, despite the fact they love their children deeply, they
simply have limited skills to raise them properly. The parent
is the first teacher of their children and without proper
guidance and education themselves these children grow up,
start school unprepared and often turn into adults trapped
in the same cycle of poverty.
Home visiting is a proven effective method
for reaching the most difficult to reach families in the toughest
of circumstances. Reports from The David and Lucille Packard
Foundation support that home visiting that includes nurses
is what makes a difference in complex families with multiple
needs and young children. They also illustrate that home visiting
is the best counter action for family violence.
In the service year 2004, our agency outcomes
included:
CHIP Staff Served: 362 families with 784 children
and made 5,066 successful home visits.
Medical Home: 100% of children under six enrolled
in CHIP at least six months have a primary care physician. Over
the past 5 years, 64% had a primary care physician on enrollment.
Birth Weight: 88% (21/24) of babies born to mothers
who had received at least 4 months of CHIP services
prior to delivery were born at a normal birth weight (5.5
lbs).
Immunizations: 92% of children under six enrolled
in CHIP at least six months are up-to-date on their
immunizations. (Compared to a citywide average of 77%
in 2000—regardless of income.)
Health Insurance: 94% of children under 6 years,
enrolled in CHIP for at least 6 months, have health
insurance.
Emergency Room Use for Asthma: 89% reduction in
ER use in the year after enrollment. (ER visits in the year
prior to enrollment=47; 5 in the year after enrollment—3
of which were for the same child).
Birth Spacing: 89% of women enrolled at least 24
months in CHIP after the birth of a baby waited at
least 24 months for a subsequent birth. Research has shown
that women, particularly those who are poor and young, should
be encouraged to avoid spacing births too close together.
Nationally, Healthy People 2010, has established a goal
that 89% of all females 15-44, regardless of income, maintain
24 months between births.
Pre-School Enrollment: 63% of the preschool aged
children enrolled in CHIP for at least six months
were also enrolled in a center-based preschool program.
Healthy Families Virginia reported that in 2002, in the
City of Richmond 27.5% (3,408/12,376) of children under
5 were enrolled in preschool.
**Our in-house evaluation system is considered
“among the top 5% in the state” by Stephen A. Horan,
PhD, president of Community Health Solutions, a Richmond firm
that provides strategic and analytical services for health,
education, and human service organizations.**
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of Greater Richmond 
CHIP is certified by the 