PAST PROJECT
This community-level improvement effort conducted from June 2018 through May 2021 focused on improving the receipt of services for young children identified as at-risk for developmental and behavioral delays. The effort included partnerships with health system leaders, primary care, behavioral health, Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education, and community-based providers. This collective impact work was intentionally aligned and synergistic with a number of the CCO 2.0 policies that focused on children ages 0-5, CCO Incentive Metrics focused on children ages 0-5, and the Early Learning System Strategy that guided and informed priority work for the Early Learning Hub. As the backbone organization of early learning across all three counties, the Early Learning Hub of Central Oregon convened stakeholders semi-annually to share the learnings, discuss implications for spread, and to inform priorities and policies within the region:
- May 18th, 2020 Stakeholder Meeting Presentation
- December 2nd, 2019 Stakeholder Meeting Presentation
- August 20th, 2018 Stakeholder Meeting Presentation
This project ensured that young children identified would receive best match follow-up through closed-loop referrals to services that would support their development and prepare them for kindergarten. Quantitative and qualitative data reviews were initially conducted in June 2018 to May 2019 to identify activities to improve outcomes for children. Targeted improvement pilot work was implemented through 2021. A number of activities were completed and tools were developed to support the spread of innovation more fully across all the region:
a) On-site training and at-the-elbow support were provided between December 2020 and May 2021 to engaged primary care sites (Mosaic, COPA, Madras Medical Group and St. Charles Prineville):
- Summary of Primary Care Practice Facilitation
- Tools for Primary Care Practice to Support Enhanced Follow-up to Developmental Screening
b) In Spring 2021, OPIP collaborated with Early Intervention (EI) to improve education to referring providers on best match referrals to EI and on closed-loop communications for children referred, including the development of medical decision trees and community asset maps to inform clinical decision making:
- Mosaic Medical Decision Tree for Best Match Follow-up to Developmental Screening
- COPA Medical Decision Tree for Best Match Follow-up to Developmental Screening
- Madras Medical Group Medical Decision Tree for Best Match Follow-up to Developmental Screening
c) From February to May 2021, trainings and tools were developed specifically to support children with social-emotional delays, those in need of medical and therapy services, and those who would benefit from behavioral health supports. These resources were designed to promote developmental health and build resilience.
- On-site Training to Address Social-Emotional Delays
- Summary of Best Practices to Address Social-Emotional Delays for Children Birth to Five
- Toolkit of Primary care and Behavioral-Strategies to Address Children with Social-Emotional Delays
d) From December 2020 through May 2021, OPIP provided on-site training and at-the-elbow support to Early Intervention & behavioral health providers to improve best match referrals and closed-loop referral pathways.
e) In Spring 2021, learnings from the project were distilled to inform state-level policies that aligned with best match care, such as ensuring OHP coverage for medical therapy services for children at-risk for developmental delay to allow early access to intervention.
f) In May 2021, learnings were distilled to inform potential pathways to dyadic behavioral health services for socially complex families.
Funding Sources: Funding for this project has been provided by the Central Oregon Health Council, the Early Learning Hub of Central Oregon, and the Central Oregon Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) System Development Funds.
