Research in Progress (RIP): "Clinician Driven Innovation To Reduce Child Health Disparities: lessons learned and future directions"

Please note: All research in progress seminars are off-the-record. Any information about methodology and/or results are embargoed until publication

Dr. Barry Zuckerman, Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at Boston University School of Medicine and Chair Emeritus, will discuss the development, implementation and lessons learned from four programs for low income patients and their parents at Boston Medical Center; Reach Out and Read, Medical legal Partnership, Health Leads, and Healthy Steps that were disseminated nationally. The second part of the presentation will present future ideas for transforming Child health care based on the needs of community based efforts to promote children entering school ready to learn that can best be met by clinicians who have a regular and trusting relationship with parents. The best way to help children is to help their parents and the best way to reach parents is thru their children. Specifically, this includes a two generation model of child health care care focusing on identification of prevalent maternal health problems that interfere with children's development and learning; maternal depression, maternal trauma, cigarettes, drug and alcohol use and unplanned pregnancy. In addition the development and use of digital media showing parents instead of telling them about how best to promote their children's development, early literacy, and nutrition with well designed follow up text messages emphasizing age appropriate concrete activities to promote learning  coupled with the mindset of how hard one has to work to be a good parent given multiple stresses.