171
Posters Advancing Comprehensive Early Childhood Intervention
Session 3
HEALTH Topic - Child Health
p3.22 Exploring Caregiver Insights for Early Intervention for Children With Sickle Cell Disease Presenting Author: Catherine Hoyt (USA) Affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, Program in Occupational Therapy Co-Authors: Kayli Antonoff, Ashley Housten, Allison King, Sophia Larson, Hunter MooreSickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited red blood cell disorder that disproportionately affects children who are Black or of African descent and is associated with developmental delays. Early intervention (EI) has been shown to mitigate delays. Caregivers of children 0-3 years of age with a diagnosis of SCD were recruited for this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to understand experiences with the screening, evaluation, and referral process and intervention (if applicable). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Caregivers who had engaged in EI shared that the services were beneficial. Caregivers described that they were unaware of EI and benefited from direct support with the referral process. Caregiver feedback was used to develop a preliminary referral toolkit to support referral and uptake of services. The findings underscore the potential role of EI services in supporting the developmental and family support needs of children with SCD. Co-Authors: Christel Ang Su-Ann, Dayana Kamarudin, Olivine Tan Ting Jia, Zhang Hua, Bien Lai Wen Pui, Chan Yoke Hwee Only 25% of Singapore children attend healthcare services for their well child visits after the last childhood immunization at 18 months. The Mission I’mPossible2 (MIP2) Program seeks to establish a system of universal surveillance and tiered support services within the preschool ecosystem, with the current focus on piloting the surveillance of growth and oral health. In 2024, 328 educators in 16 MIP2 preschool centers underwent specialized training modules to ensure accurate height and weight measurement and to conduct “Lift the Lip” screening for early dental caries. The approximately 980 children screened this year were systematically tiered based on the surveillance results, with tier 2 and tier 3 children receiving targeted parent counseling and if indicated, further referrals to pediatric or dental services. By embedding a systematic health surveillance process within preschool workflows, MIP2 establishes a novel model for preventive healthcare, enabling earlier detection and support for common childhood health challenges. p3.21 Enhancing Early Childhood Health: Integrating Growth and Oral Health Surveillance in Singapore Preschools Presenting Author: Sylvia Choo Henn Team (Singapore) Affiliation: KK Women's and Children's Hospital, PCF Sparkletots Preschool, National Dental Centre HEALTH Topic - Mental Health p3.23 Improving Infant Mental Health Home Visiting Training Curriculum to Strengthen Cultural Responsiveness and Equitable Service Delivery: A Quality Improvement Project Presenting Author: Chioma Torres (USA) Affiliation: Michigan State University Co-Authors: Helenia Quince, Jessica Riggs, Kate Rosenblum, Vivian L. Tamkin, Tova Walsh Infant Mental Health Home Visiting (IMH-HV) is a needs-driven, relationship-based home visiting intervention with demonstrated positive outcomes for parents and young children. Prior research found that higher therapeutic alliance (TA) was associated with improved program retention and provider race affected TA and retention for clients. The objective was to inform improvements to IMH-HV provider training to better prepare providers to effectively engage and support diverse families. Focus groups or individual interviews were completed with 18 providers and 7 parents/caregivers. Participants self-selected one of three groups: White identifying, Black identifying and non-specified identity groups. A racially diverse, interdisciplinary team facilitated focus groups and interviews and conducted thematic analysis of the data. Analysis identified barriers and opportunities for effective engagement: when providers and clients are of different racial/ethnic backgrounds, provider attempts to forge a connection may make families feel ‘othered’; providers may not see their racial identity as salient, yet it influences their practice and the establishment of rapport with families; patience, tolerating discomfort, and allowing a family to determine whether the provider can be trusted are key. Effective IMH-HV practice with clients of diverse backgrounds requires a high level of self-understanding from providers. p3.24 Opportunities to Address Mental Health of Black/African American Fathers in the Perinatal Period Presenting Author: Chioma Torres (USA) Affiliation: Michigan State University Co-Authors: Anthony Nixon, Alvin Thomas, Tova Walsh Fathers are an essential supporter of the mental health of mothers during the perinatal period. Prior research reveals supportive Black/African American (AA) fathers are a protective factor for adverse outcomes due to systemic inequities for Black/AA mothers. This is a mixed methods study using a survey of 75 fathers and focus groups with a subset of fathers. Fathers identified as Black/African American, lived in Milwaukee, WI, USA, and were either expecting a baby or parent to an infant. A racially diverse, interdisciplinary team conducted thematic analysis of the data to gain insight into father’s interactions with the medical field, stressors identified by fathers, and barriers or effective engagements of care. Fathers were mostly aged 18 to 34 years old (79%) and 58% reported depressive symptoms in the severe range. Themes identified for Black/AA fathers are an increase in stress and a need for a strong support system, challenges reflecting their own needs to ask for help, and feeling they are not addressed in the room by the medical provider during perinatal visits.
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