Integrating the Charting the LifeCourse Framework into Maternal and Child Health Workers Support of Children and Families to Support a Well-Functioning Healthcare System

Full Description: Maternal and Child health workers play an important role in supporting children with special healthcare needs and their families to explore life possibilities, establish a vision for now and the future, and linkage to supports and services to ensure a trajectory towards that vision. This role is complex, multi-faceted and challenging, made even more so since 84% of children with special healthcare needs do not receive care in a well-functioning system. The Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) framework, practices, and tools support people and families in navigating that system, as well as provide professionals with a common set of values and shared language to increase system collaboration and connection to better meet the needs of children and families.

Charting the LifeCourse framework developed through partnerships with stakeholders, including people with special healthcare needs and their families; and refined by the National Community of Practice for Supporting Families. It is used to help individuals and families of all ages and abilities develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live. The framework is the keystone for supporting a community of learning that champions transformational change through knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collaborative engagement.

The LifeCourse Nexus Training and Technical Assistance Center (UMKC-IHD) provides support to a network of professionals using CtLC in their day-to-day interactions with people and families, in designing programs and policies, and for community organizing to advance systems change. Missouri Family-to-Family, (UMKC-IHD) uses the CtLC framework and tools in information, referral and navigation services. Use of the CtLC helps families forecast around situations that they otherwise would not have been equipped to anticipate and assists with ensuring their voice is heard in the planning of the life they want for themselves and family members.

The LifeCourse Nexus and MOF2F will facilitate this skill building session, introducing MCH workers to the CtLC framework and tools, and how they can be used for education and screening services, and coordination of care. Through discussion-based lecture, personal activities and reflection, and case study examples, MCH workers will be provided with information, examples, and the opportunity to practice applying the concepts and resources to their day to day role. Key areas of focus will include: supporting children and families to establish and advocate for their vision for their healthcare, all aspects of quality of life and the Social Determinants of health to develop a holistic plan considering all of life domains and how they contribute to positive health outcomes, and a framework and skills for identifying comprehensive, integrated supports that include paid and unpaid resources.

Abbreviated Description: LifeCourse Nexus and Missouri Family-to-Family will introduce MCH workers to the Charting the LifeCourse framework and tools, and how they can be used for education and screening services as well as coordinating care. The framework helps individuals and families of all ages and abilities develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to achieve their good life. Charting the LifeCourse supports a community of learning that champions transformational change through knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collaborative engagement. MCH workers will learn practices and tools that result in a more accessible, cohesive, and well-functioning healthcare system.