Improving Access Through Implementation of Site-Based Well-Child Visits in Head Start

Abstract

Children in poverty are at greater risk for developmental and health problems and face significant barriers in accessing routine preventive healthcare. Evidence based guidelines recommend stricter adherence to the schedule of well-child care to promote early identification and treatment. Literature indicates that well-child visits in school settings make a difference among low-income children with unmet preventive healthcare needs. This study describes the implementation of a well-child visit program in a Head Start site with enrollments of children living in poverty. The comparison study design measured the aggregate percentage of children up to date with well-child visits against historical pre-data. There were increases in the proportion of children up to date with the site-based intervention. Implications support the establishment of school-based health centers in Head Start sites that provides well-child visits as well as illness management.