Implementation of a Migrant Well-Child Health Toolkit for CAWC Healthcare Providers

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this QI project was to implement a Migrant Well-Child Health Toolkit at Casa Alitas Welcome Center (CAWC) that serves as a guideline for volunteer medical professionals in conducting comprehensive well-child examinations on migrant children upon arrival to the migrant shelter in Tucson, Arizona.Background. Arizona is one of ten U.S. states that houses nearly three-quarters of children in immigrant families (Linton et al., 2016). The migrant population arrives with unique healthcare needs and is more likely to immigrate with pre-existing health conditions and exposure to traumatic events because of their turbulent migration histories (Seery et al., 2015). Conducting comprehensive well-child assessments on newly migrated children will prepare them for school entry, identify immediate health needs, assess developmental milestones, and ensure vaccinations are up to date (AAP, 2020a). Methods. This QI project used a pre and post-survey design. The Migrant Well-Child Health Toolkit is comprised of current recommendations for migrant well-child visits according to the AAP, CDC, WHO, Bright Futures Guidelines, SAMHSA, and Arizona’s EPSDT program. A pre-recorded PowerPoint presentation delivered provider training to the participants on the toolkit. A pre-survey assessed their prior knowledge of conducting well-child examinations on migrant children. The post-survey evaluated their learning and readiness to implement the intervention and included questions to determine the toolkit's initial validation. Results. A convenience sample of 10 participants (n=10) completed the project’s components with a response rate of 10.8%. All of the project’s outcomes were met; increased provider knowledge in migrant child health, confidence in performing well-child health screenings, and intent to conduct well-child health assessments at CAWC. Additionally, 90% (n=9) of CAWC providers indicated that the toolkit contains the resources necessary to conduct well-child screenings on migrant children. Conclusion. The findings suggest that the toolkit was developed with high-quality evidence, clear presentation, and offers the resources necessary to conduct well-child screenings at CAWC. This data serves as an initial step to inform future efforts that promote health equity and guides an implementation strategy to integrate the Migrant Well-Child Health Toolkit into clinical practice when caring for migrant children.