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Orange County <br />Board of Commissioners <br />Action Agenda Item Abstract <br />Date: June 22, 1998 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No <br />Subject: Smart Start Grant -Infant Home Visitation <br />Department: Emergency Management <br />Attachment(s): <br />Proposed Services Agreement <br />Evolution of Smart Start Grant <br />Public Hearing Yes ~ No <br />Information Contact: Nick Waters <br />Extension Number: 3030 <br />Telephone Number: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Purpose: To consider accepting a $5,000 grant from the Orange County Partnership for Young <br />Children (Smart Start) for informational materials and equipment to be distributed during home <br />visitations as part of the "Welcome to the World" project. <br />Background: In recent months, Orange County EMS has been working closely with many <br />community agencies -the Orange County Health Department, Department of Social Services, <br />Partnership for Young Children, Chapel Hill Outreach, NC Cooperative Extension, Piedmont <br />Health Services, PACT, KidScope, UNC Hospitals, Healthy Steps, Family Support Network, <br />Adolescents in Need, Healthy Carolinians, UNC Family Practice, UNC Community Peds, <br />Horizons, LJNC School of Nursing, Prevent Child Abuse of North Carolina,lJNC Center for <br />Home Visiting, UNC School of Education, and others - in a developing a wide continuum of <br />home visiting services to families in Orange County. Specifically, EMS is developing a public <br />health, expanded scope paramedic project directed specifically at injury prevention and early <br />childhood wellness issues in infants born to Orange County mothers. This project has been <br />designed to more effectively and efficiently utilize the time and expertise of our paramedics <br />when they must be in their assigned areas available for emergency calls, but are not actually on a <br />call. <br />The paramedic will conduct a safety survey; inspect each home for child-related injury risks; <br />provide information on available community resources, injury prevention, basic immunization <br />guidelines, first aid, car seat and other safety concerns; and will make appropriate referrals. Each <br />paramedic will present to the new parent a Welcome to the World baby bag containing literature <br />and safety equipment. The $5,000 in 1997-98 Smart Start funds will be used to purchase the <br />information and equipment to be distributed. <br />Recommendation: The Manager recommends that the Board accept the grant for funding safety <br />items and literature; and authorize the Chair to sign. <br />