Young & Healthy Programs

Program Description

The Pasadena Unified School District reflects these statistics: 83% of the students are from families in the three lowest (of six) census income categories based on zone/block characteristics; over 54% are in the two lowest income categories; and only 1.3% are in the highest income bracket. Over 28.6% of these students are from homes receiving Aid for Families with Dependent Children and over 12,700 students participate in a federally supported free/reduced-price lunch program. (The AFDC and subsidized lunch figures, while conveniently obtained, are inadequate to describe the extent of poverty within the District.) These statistics paint a disturbing picture of a polarized city where nearly half the children lack access to many of the basic resources that are readily available to the other half. These facts prompted the formation of the Health Coalition for Children and Youth in 1988, which in turn developed Young & Healthy in 1990.

Program Activity

Young & Healthy staff members accept telephone requests for services from Pasadena area schools, the Pasadena Public Health Department, homeless shelters, day care centers and other agencies serving low-income uninsured children. Care is taken to rotate referrals among all the volunteer doctors. Specially designed forms help us keep accurate track of referrals, diagnosis and recommendations, follow-up needs, and parent satisfaction. These also support the important ongoing evaluation of our work.

The program includes the following professionals and services:

1. Dentists
   Almost 50 volunteer dentists are available on a rotational basis to provide acute dental services to children in their offices. In addition there are two other dental programs:
   • A monthly dental education program for first grade students to teach them how to care for their own teeth.
   • The USC Mobile Dental Clinic comes twice a year to provide comprehensive dental care for 240 children in the community with the greatest needs. Over $110,000 of dental care is provided at each of these clinics.


2. Pre-K Dental Initiative
   Young & Healthy began to implement a comprehensive Pre-K Dental Program in 2004 that has had and will continue to have significant and beneficial impact on our community. This program includes:
   • the ongoing free care provided by 42 volunteer dentists
   • a free, annual Mobile Dental Clinic for 120 local children, in collaboration with the USC School of Dentistry
   • our fun and effective dental education program for more than 900 first-graders each year
   • development and delivery of education and prevention services targeting prenatal mothers, parents of pre-school aged children, medical and dental health professionals, and school nurses. This expansion will also mean growth in Young & Healthy's existing relationship with the USC Dental School, and the availability of screening and treatment services for both pre-school children and prenatal mothers.

     Many thanks to our generous donors who make this program possible: Patron Saints Foundation, QueensCare Charitable Division, Rose Hills Foundation, and the S. Mark Taper Foundation.



3. Pediatricians and other Specialists
   Almost 300 local volunteer pediatricians, physical therapists, optometrists, podiatrists and other specialists are available on a rotating basis to provide medical treatment to students in their offices. Some physicians have adopted children as their clients and created a long-term medical home for them. Surgical and other outpatient services are also available.


4. Mental Health Staff and Volunteer Professionals
   Young & Healthy provides a wide range of mental health services to children, youth, families and school staff in the greater Pasadena area. A range of general mental health concerns, as well as more specific behavior problems, are addressed each school year in small groups of students, teacher workshops, and parent education sessions. The staff also trains and supervises psychology interns who offer weekly on-campus support. Almost 50 volunteer licensed mental health care professionals and interns are available to provide free individual counseling to students on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, Young & Healthy sponsors I Think I CAN!: The Resilient Child, a specialized resiliency program designed to help prevent the depression and anxiety prevalent among our target population of low-income, uninsured children. Inspired by the University of Pennsylvania's Childhood Depression Project, Dr. Terrill Helander, Young & Healthy's Mental Health Program Director, has developed and implemented an original school-based curriculum that instructs children in ways to rebound against adversity and develop more resiliency in the face of life difficulties.


5. Case Management
   After the initial referral, a full-time case manager and/or a nurse follow up on each child referred to one of our professional providers. They help parents obtain any additional or ongoing care their child might need, and equip them with information about other kinds of community resources.


6. Pharmacists/Labs
   Thirteen local pharmacists provide free prescriptions, and Huntington Memorial Hospital provides lab tests to Young & Healthy children as recommended by physicians and dentists.


7. Funds for Lab Work, X-rays and Related Services
   Young & Healthy has established the Healing Fund to cover follow-up medical costs for special medical procedures that are not donated. This fund is primarily supported by the Pasadena Children's Guild, but donations are solicited from individuals and community groups.


8. Community Volunteers
   Approximately 150 trained community volunteers helping with a variety of Young & Healthy projects: some assist school nurses with routine and special tasks, some help out in the Young & Healthy office, assist in fundraising, work during the USC Mobile Dental Clinics, provide translation and transportation services, and participate in the Dental Education Program for first-graders.


9. Parent Enrichment / Education
   Parent education is a part of each component of Young & Healthy. Pediatricians, dentists and health professionals offer classes for parents on a regular basis. Topics include: "Peds Basic Asthma Class," "Caring for Your Sick Child," "How to Create a Safe Home," "First Aid," "Child Nutrition" and "Oral Health." A separate series of classes is provided by mental health volunteers on Child Rearing Techniques. Young & Healthy staff offers classes on "Finding Health Resources for Your Child."


10. Allen Advocacy Program
    Since the Federal Government released funds to the states in July 1998 to increase their offerings of affordable health insurance for children, Young & Healthy has begun a systematic outreach and enrollment effort in Pasadena. Even though we are addressing the health care needs of many uninsured children in this community, we know it would be best if all children had good health insurance. A full-time bilingual Family Advocate position was created on our staff to help identify and assist those who qualify with the application process.

Health Insurance

Healthy Families: A low cost state funded insurance program for children from the ages of 0-19 years of age, who are born in the United States or are documented. It covers medical, dental, vision and hospitalization. The cost is $7 - $15 per child, with a family cap of no more than $45 for families with 2 or more children.

Medi-Cal: A low or no cost health insurance that is a state funded program that covers children, 0-18 years of age and pregnant mothers. Full scope Medi-Cal recipients must be documented, there is emergency Medi-Cal available for those children who are currently un-documented. Full scope Medi-Cal covers medical, dental, vision and hospitalization.

Healthy Kids: Provides comprehensive health care insurance at low cost to children between 0-18 years of age. Children are eligible if they fall between these ages, are not eligible for no-cost Medi-Cal or Healthy Families, and their families reside in Los Angeles County.

California Kids: Specializing in coverage for children who are undocumented and new to the United States. This insurance plan covers medical, dental and vision office visits. There is a low cost start up fee and also a small monthly fee per child for families that are eligible. This program does not cover hospitalization.

KP Cares/Kaiser Permanente: This is an option for families who are not eligible for Healthy Families, Medi-Cal or California Kids, due to a higher income status. KP cares also offers coverage for children who are undocumented. There is full medical and hospitalization coverage available through this program.

Low or No Cost, Quality Health Insurance is just a phone call away . . .
For more information please contact Norma A. Palacios, Family/Insurance Advocate (626) 795-5166

Replication

Young & Healthy was featured on the "Solutions" segment of ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings on April 4, 1997. We believe strongly in our volunteer model and want to provide replication assistance to any community requesting advice. Since the TV program aired, Young & Healthy has received over 150 inquiries from 24 states. Information packets, including an order form for replication training materials, are sent to each caller. Several California communities, such as Claremont, Glendale, West Covina, Riverside, and Sonoma County, and communities in Ohio and Florida have already been successful in replications. Our offer of technical support is ongoing.