Preliminary study of a community health worker (CHW) program shows reductions in caregiver distress, as well as food- and housing-related needs.

Background

Caregivers of children with special health care needs experience high levels of stress and are often required to navigate complex health care and social service systems. The Special Kids Achieving Their Everything (SKATE) CHW program was developed in 2016 and implemented in pediatric practices at New York Presbyterian Hospital. This study evaluated the impact of the SKATE program on caregiver distress and unmet health-related social needs.

Findings

This study found that caregivers who completed the SKATE program experienced significant reductions in caregiver distress, increased understanding of their child’s diagnoses, and resolution of their housing and food issues. CHWs were found to foster positive relationships with families and create peer connections, supporting their ability to assess families for unmet social needs and connect them with necessary services.

Key Takeaways

A CHW program designed to offer peer supports, connections to social services, and accompaniments to provider appointments was successful at addressing challenges faced by caregivers of children with special health care needs.