Healthy Steps
Healthy Steps was developed in 1994 at the Boston University School of Medicine. The Healthy Steps Practice of Phoenix Children's Hospital began in 2001.
Healthy Steps in an evidence-based prevention model of child development that focuses on the importance of the first three years of life. It emphasizes a close relationship between health care professionals and parents. It addresses physical, emotional, and intellectual growth, and development of the child from birth to age three.
The Healthy Steps team at Phoenix Children's Hospital is made up of Healthy Steps Specialists and Pediatricians in Pediatric and Family Practice. Beginning with the infant's first well-child visit exam and with each well-child visit until the child reaches age three, the specialist co-visits with the pediatrician to provide an enhanced well-child visit. The specialist also provides parents with "heads up" about upcoming brain development and their child's associated behaviors and how they tie to the child's developmental age and stage.
As part of the service children also receive periodic developmental screenings beginning at six months of age. Handouts and materials for parents on specific topics on child development and parenting suggestions are given to parents. Healthy Steps also participates in Reach Out and Read, which promotes the love of books, where the children are given a new book to take home beginning with the six month well-child visit until they are five years old.
Additional services include home visits to coach families with home safety and discipline plans, information about the importance of positive parent-child interactions, linking parents to community resources and to assist parents in reaching informed decisions guiding their parenting approach.
Phoenix Children's Hospital is one of 17 Healthy Steps sites nationally providing pediatric resident training in child development.
During the first year of residency, first year interns will learn clinical interviewing skills and child development as they co-visit and observe the Healthy Steps specialist. Follow up discussion allows residents to enhance their developmental observation and interpretation skills by discussing what they observed during the interaction between the parent(s) and the specialist.
In the second year, the residents will have the knowledge to answer the parents' questions and gradually assume the role of a specialist, while the Healthy Steps specialist steps back and guides the resident. By the third year the resident will have enough knowledge in child development that the Healthy Steps specialist will serve as a coach during the co-visits with the parents.
Contact
(602) 546-0235
