Health strategies to strengthen families
Health strategies can increase access to and utilization of care, improve physical and mental health, and reduce household stress and uncertainty.
Children raised in healthy, stable homes are more likely to experience positive economic mobility outcomes at every life stage.
How do health issues impact family well-being?
- Consistent access to healthcare creates better health outcomes for individuals and families. 1
Uninsured individuals experience worse health outcomes, have a lower quality of life, and higher mortality rates than individuals with insurance.
Uninsured individuals are less likely to have a primary care provider and less likely to receive preventive care, dental care, chronic disease management, and behavioral health counseling.
- Expecting mothers in good health are more likely to have children born at healthy birthweights. 2
Babies born underweight are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions, exhibit disruptive behaviors, and less likely to graduate from high school.
- Healthy adults experience more stability in their employment. 3 4
Poor health is both a contributor to and a result of employment instability. Employment instability can lead to material hardship, which can have negative impacts on parent-parent and parent-child relationships.
- Healthy families are less stressed and able to devote more time and resources to their children. 5
Health issues constrain time, energy, and resources for individuals and families, increasing family stress and reducing the material resources and emotional capacity that parents can provide their children.
Categories of successful interventions
- Community health programs: Medical services or health-related programs based in underserved neighborhoods
- Health systems navigation assistance: Programs that provide one-on-one guidance to individuals as they navigate social or health services.
- Substance use prevention programs: Programs that seek to reduce alcohol and drug use
Evidence-based interventions
Intervention | Type | Category | Evidence Level |
---|---|---|---|
AVANCE Parent-Child Education Program (PCEP) | Program |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Breastfeeding promotion programs | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Centering Pregnancy | Program |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Child-Parent Centers | Program |
|
Strong (second-highest tier) |
Clinic-based programs for pregnant and parenting teens | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Criando con Amor: Promoviendo Armonía y Superación (CAPAS) | Program |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Culturally adapted health care | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Family Foundations | Program |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Federally-qualified health centers | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Financial incentives for preventative care | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Health insurance enrollment outreach and support | Strategy |
|
Strong (second-highest tier) |
Health literacy interventions | Strategy |
|
Strong (second-highest tier) |
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters | Program |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Individually-adapted physical activity programs | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Medical homes | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Medical-legal partnerships | Strategy |
|
Strong (second-highest tier) |
Nurse-Family Partnership | Program |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
ParentCorps | Program |
|
Strong (second-highest tier) |
Patient navigators | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Preschool With Family Support Services | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Professionally trained medical interpreters | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
SafeCare | Program |
|
Strong (second-highest tier) |
Smart Start North Carolina | Program |
|
Strong (second-highest tier) |
Text message-based health interventions | Strategy |
|
Proven (highest tier) |
Triple P: Positive Parenting Program | Program |
|
Proven (highest tier) |