Developing community partnerships to enhance care for rural families with low birth weight children

Sachs, B.; Hall, L.A.

Developing community partnerships to enhance care for rural families with low birth weight children

1998

Sachs, B. | Hall, L.A.

This paper describes one strategy, a participatory conference, for building partnerships among health professionals who provide care for rural families living in eastern Kentucky with low birth weight children. The long-term goals are to improve coordination and to supplement care for these children and their families. A two-round Delphi technique was used prior to the conference--Rural Low Birth Weight Children and Their Families: Visions for the Future--for providers, families, and policy-makers to identify the major health needs and concerns of these families. At the conference, speakers presented data and examples of successful interventions used in other rural areas. In small groups, conference participants explored barriers to care and strategies to overcome them. They also made recommendations to improve service delivery. Based on conference ideas, a support program for families with low birth weight children is being implemented and evaluated in one rural county.

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