What is P-20 education? Governor Rick Snyder's call for a P-20 education system is probably causing a lot of people to scratch their heads, wondering exactly what that means. In  his State of the State address last month, Governor Snyder said, "It is time that we view our education system which runs from prenatal to lifelong learning. It's time to start talking about P-20 instead of just K-12." P-20 is a cradle to career approach. It recognizes that what happens in the earliest years of a child's life has a strong impact on his or her success as an adult. People who hear the term often assume the "P" stands for preschool, but waiting until preschool is too late. That's a message that Michigan's largest foundations have shared with the new administration. "Scientific research tells us the first three years of life are the most critical for brain growth and development," said Susan Broman, President of the Steelcase Foundation. "Our community is investing heavily in helping parents provide their children with high quality early learning experiences starting at birth. Early childhood education should be one of Michigan's top priorities, and it's encouraging to hear Governor Snyder highlight the importance of it."
According to the advocacy organization Michigan's Children, 38 other states already have a P-20 task force or council.  "These groups identify, create, incentivize and support interagency, public/private partnerships toward an end goal of educational and workforce success for all young people," Michigan's Children Executive Director Jack Kresnak wrote in a recent column applauding Gov. Snyder's support of the P-20 concept. Exactly how Michigan would structure and fund a P-20 education system remains to be seen. Some initial answers may come when the Governor releases his budget proposal this week. In the meantime, his talk of P-20 education is an encouraging sign for the many, many people across the state who understand that the education of our youngest children is key to rebuilding Michigan's economy. If you'd like to learn more about P-20, click on the link for an Issues Primer from Michigan's Children.
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News & Updates
National recognition for the
Children's Healthcare Access Program
A federal agency is recognizing the Children's Healthcare Access Program (CHAP) as an innovative approach to improving access to quality care for children with Medicaid. CHAP, a collaborative community-based medical home program, was profiled by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Click on the link to read the AHRQ article.
Additionally, the study that prompted First Steps and our community partners to launch CHAP has been published in the Journal of Pediatrics. The study, led by Dr. Tom Peterson, documents the disparity in health outcomes for Michigan children with Medicaid compared to children with private insurance.
CIick on the link to read more about the study in the Journal of Pediatrics .
Center for Michigan puts spotlight on early childhood
and First Steps Commission
The Center for Michigan is highlighting early childhood education as an important economic development issue. A recent edition of the Center's eNewsletter featured a Special Report: Don't Count Out Early Education. The report points out that Michigan slashed its preschool budget by 20%-- despite evidence that early childhood investments save Michigan taxpayers about a  billion dollars a year. The report also profiles other states with strong early childhood education programs that could serve as a model for Michigan.
That same edition of the Center's eNewsletter included a guest article on the work of the First Steps Commission in Kent County.
Click on the link to read both pieces from the Center for Michigan. |
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Maternal Infant Health Program
We want to share the stories of programs and services that are working with young children and their families in Kent County. This time we are featuring the Maternal Infant Health Program, a statewide program that provides support to promote healthy pregnancies, good birth outcomes, and healthy infants.
The importance of prenatal support is getting a lot of attention these days, thanks to Governor Snyder's talk of a P-20 education system (see What is P-20 education?). But it's been central to the Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) since it began in the mid-80's.
MIHP is a statewide program available to expectant mothers and infants who have Medicaid health insurance, which includes more than 40% of all babies born in Kent County. It's a comprehensive program that provides the support families need for healthy pregnancies and healthy infants. That could include help with any number of issues: prenatal care, breastfeeding, safe sleep, child development, parenting, depression, nutrition, and many others. Ideally, mothers enroll in the program early in their pregnancy.
"The sooner we get involved with a woman during her pregnancy the more time we have to positively influence her lifestyle and,ultimately, the health of her baby," explained Susan Henning, supervisor of Spectrum Health's MOMS Program, one of the MIHP providers in the community.
MIHP continues to provide support through the first year of the child's life. Mothers who didn't join the program during pregnancy still can do so after their baby is born.
"We spend a good deal of our time during the infant component teaching parents how to interact with their babies and what is age appropriate behavior. Helping parents understand child development is an important part of preventing child abuse," said Dianna Baker, supervisor of MIHP at the Kent County Health Department.
"I think most people want to do the right thing for their babies, but they don't always know how. Families are excited to receive the information, education and support services we provide," Henning said.
Nurses, social workers, registered dietitians, and in some cases community health workers, all are part of the MIHP team. The program is broader than "Maternal Infant Health" may suggest. Fathers are encouraged to participate, and the services provided extend beyond physical and behavioral health. A big focus is connecting families to community resources, particularly those that can fill the gap between the end of MIHP and the beginning of Head Start or preschool.
"Our goal is to leave families in a different place than when they started the program, so they can advocate for themselves, know what's available in the community and know how to access it," Baker explained.
In addition to the Kent County Health Department and Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, other MIHP providers include Cherry Street Health Services, Metro Health and New Beginnings.
Click on the link to learn more about the Maternal Infant Health Program.
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