Healthy People Worldwide

HEALTHY TOMORROWS PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM - THE B.R.I.D.G.E. HEALTH PROGRAM (BRINGING RESOURCES, INCLUSION, AND DEVELOPMENT TO GUIDE EARLY) IS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN INITIATIVE BY MOWANA CARE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN RURAL BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ. THIS PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH HRSA’S MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BUREAU PRIORITIES AND NEW JERSEY’S HEALTHY WOMEN, HEALTHY FAMILIES INITIATIVE BY ADDRESSING DISPARITIES IN MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES THROUGH TARGETED, EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS. BURLINGTON COUNTY FACES SIGNIFICANT HEALTHCARE ACCESS CHALLENGES, INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS, PROVIDER SHORTAGES, AND RACIAL DISPARITIES IN MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH. BLACK WOMEN IN NEW JERSEY EXPERIENCE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATES FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN WHITE WOMEN, WHILE BLACK INFANTS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE BEFORE THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY. THE B.R.I.D.G.E. HEALTH PROGRAM AIMS TO MITIGATE THESE DISPARITIES BY EXPANDING EARLY CHILDHOOD SCREENINGS, SCHOOL-BASED IMMUNIZATION CLINICS, AND ADOLESCENT WELL-VISITS WHILE INTEGRATING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS. THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE CHILDREN (0-18 YEARS), PREGNANT WOMEN, CAREGIVERS, AND FAMILIES IN LOW-INCOME, RURAL, AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. KEY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH SCREENINGS USING THE BRIGHT FUTURES TOOLKIT AND PEDIATRIC SYMPTOM CHECKLIST (PSC), MOBILE IMMUNIZATION CLINICS AND SCHOOL-BASED VACCINATIONS TO IMPROVE CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION RATES, AND CULTURALLY TAILORED MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH EDUCATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE PROGRAM WILL ALSO ENGAGE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWS) TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, ASSIST WITH MEDICAID ENROLLMENT, AND FACILITATE ACCESS TO CARE, WHILE INCORPORATING TELEHEALTH AND DIGITAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS TO SUPPORT PREVENTIVE CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFERRALS. OVER FIVE YEARS, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SCREENINGS BY 30% BY 2026, ACHIEVE 85% IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE AMONG PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BY 2027, AND REDUCE MISSED PREVENTIVE CARE APPOINTMENTS BY 50% BY 2029. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM WILL STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH AT LEAST 10 MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS BY 2029 TO ENHANCE SERVICE DELIVERY AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. TO ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY, THE B.R.I.D.G.E. HEALTH PROGRAM WILL IMPLEMENT A MULTI-TIERED FUNDING APPROACH, INCLUDING MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVENTIVE SCREENINGS, INTEGRATION INTO NJDOH INITIATIVES, AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM LOCAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS. BY LEVERAGING THESE STRATEGIES, THE PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE LASTING IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR BURLINGTON COUNTY’S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.