With an aim toward the healthy development of its youngest patients, Neighborhood Health Center is expanding the HealthySteps program to a second site. Neighborhood Health Center Mattina, at 300 Niagara Street, is joining Neighborhood Health Center Blasdell in offering the program.

HealthySteps is an evidence-based, team-based pediatric primary care program that promotes the health, well-being and school readiness of babies and toddlers, with an emphasis on families living in low-income communities. Neighborhood was the first health center in Western New York to implement this program when it began at its Blasdell location, 4233 Lake Avenue, in fall of 2022. Neighborhood is planning to expand the program to all of its pediatrics locations in 2024.

“Babies’ brains grow faster from ages 0-3 than any point in life and pediatricians are a trusted source of information for parents during these critical years,” says Joanne Haefner, FNP, President and CEO of Neighborhood Health Center. “Pediatric providers though have a long list of services to cover during a well-child visit. That’s where HealthySteps comes in. This program offers tailored support for concerns that physicians often lack time to address, such as: behavior, sleep, feeding, attachment, parental depression, social determinants of health, and adapting to life with a baby or toddler.”

HealthySteps uses a team-based approach that integrates a HealthySteps specialist, who is a clinical social worker and child development expert, into the health care team. All children ages 0-3 and their families receive a universal screening to determine what additional supports a family might need, such as care coordination and on-site intervention, or more frequent follow ups as needed.

Neighborhood is able to expand the HealthySteps program thanks to a grant from the New York State Office of Mental Health. This grant funds training to integrate HealthySteps into Neighborhood’s pediatrics practices, and supports the work of HealthySteps specialists at each location with the program. 

HealthySteps is a program of ZERO TO THREE, the nation’s leading nonprofit working to ensure all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. HealthySteps practices serve as trusted and valuable partners as families foster their children’s healthy development. Together, the national network of HealthySteps sites aims to reach more than one million young children annually by 2032. 

Visit healthysteps.org or zerotothree.org to learn more.