The HealthySteps National Office at ZERO TO THREE Announces Support for Reduced Well-Child Visits, Expanded Telehealth during COVID-19 Pandemic
Statement from Rahil Briggs, national director, HealthySteps National Office at ZERO TO THREE:
WASHINGTON (March 19, 2020) – “The HealthySteps National Office at ZERO TO THREE supports our sites and their institutions’ policies and practices to safeguard the health of the communities they serve in this unprecedented time.”
“The HealthySteps National Office recognizes that minimizing person-to-person contact whenever possible is in the best interest of the public’s health. The HealthySteps National Office, therefore, supports our HealthySteps sites and their institutions should they decide to temporarily suspend well-child visits, transition to telehealth services for behavioral health, and/or request that HealthySteps Specialists work off-site. The National Office’s support for these policies aligns with recent guidance and discretion from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
“All health systems must make their own decisions to best suit their employees, patients and communities, and in accordance with federal, state and local health department guidelines. HealthySteps is a valuable service for more than 160 communities across the country and the need for HealthySteps will only grow in the challenging weeks and months ahead.”
About HealthySteps
HealthySteps is an evidence-based program of ZERO TO THREE, the nation’s leading nonprofit working to ensure all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. HealthySteps transforms the promise of pediatric primary care through a unique team-based approach that integrates a HealthySteps Specialist, a child development expert, into the health care team. All children ages 0-3 and their families receive a tiered model of services, from universal screening to risk-stratified supports, including care coordination and onsite intervention, as needed. HealthySteps practices serve as trusted and valuable partners as families foster their children’s healthy development. Together, the national network of HealthySteps sites aims to reach more than 1 million young children and families annually by 2032.
About ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE works to ensure all babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections critical to their well-being and development. Since 1977, the organization has advanced the proven power of nurturing relationships by transforming the science of early childhood into helpful resources, practical tools and responsive policies for millions of parents, professionals, and policymakers. For more information, and to learn how to become a ZERO TO THREE member, please visit zerotothree.org, facebook.com/zerotothree, or follow @ZEROTOTHREE on Twitter.
