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Building Economic Security Today: Making the Health–Wealth Connection in Contra Costa County’s Maternal and Child Health Programs

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Abstract

In recent years, maternal and child health professionals have been seeking approaches to integrating the Life Course Perspective and social determinants of health into their work. In this article, we describe how community input, staff feedback, and evidence from the field that the connection between wealth and health should be addressed compelled the Contra Costa Family, Maternal and Child Health (FMCH) Programs Life Course Initiative to launch Building Economic Security Today (BEST). BEST utilizes innovative strategies to reduce inequities in health outcomes for low-income Contra Costa families by improving their financial security and stability. FMCH Programs’ Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) conducted BEST financial education classes, and its Medically Vulnerable Infant Program (MVIP) instituted BEST financial assessments during public health nurse home visits. Educational and referral resources were also developed and distributed to all clients. The classes at WIC increased clients’ awareness of financial issues and confidence that they could improve their financial situations. WIC clients and staff also gained knowledge about financial resources in the community. MVIP’s financial assessments offered clients a new and needed perspective on their financial situations, as well as support around the financial and psychological stresses of caring for a child with special health care needs. BEST offered FMCH Programs staff opportunities to engage in non-traditional, cross-sector partnerships, and gain new knowledge and skills to address a pressing social determinant of health. We learned the value of flexible timelines, maintaining a long view for creating change, and challenging the traditional paradigm of maternal and child health.

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Acknowledgments

The authors want to thank the following individuals for their significant contributions to and critical review of this article: Debbie Casanova, MPH; Chuck McKetney, PhD, MPH; Mary Jane Kiefer, RD; Beverly Clark, RD; Raz Moghbel, RD; Bette Lucey, RN, BSN; Linda Black, RN, BSN; Alicia Grand, RN, BSN; Nayeli Zavala, RN, BSN; Kristina Kutter, MPH; Lauren Leimbach, MBA; Kayley Harrington, MSW, MPH; and Wendel Brunner, MD, PhD. Funding for BEST and the writing of this article was provided by Contra Costa Health Services; California Department of Public Health, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program; The San Francisco Foundation; East Bay Community Foundation; Kaiser Permanente Diablo Area; Kaiser Permanente East Bay; and Y & H Soda Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Contra Costa Health Services, Family, Maternal and Child Health Programs, 597 Center Avenue, Suite 365, Martinez, CA, 94553, USA

    Padmini Parthasarathy, Dawn E. Dailey & Carrie Lam

  2. California Adolescent Health Collaborative, Public Health Institute, 555 12th Street, 10th Floor, Oakland, CA, 94607, USA

    Maria-Elena D. Young

  3. School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 279 University Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    Cheri Pies

Authors
  1. Padmini Parthasarathy
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  2. Dawn E. Dailey
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  3. Maria-Elena D. Young
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  4. Carrie Lam
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  5. Cheri Pies
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Correspondence to Padmini Parthasarathy.

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Parthasarathy, P., Dailey, D.E., Young, ME.D. et al. Building Economic Security Today: Making the Health–Wealth Connection in Contra Costa County’s Maternal and Child Health Programs. Matern Child Health J 18, 396–404 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1309-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-013-1309-7

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