Enhancing the Role Public Health Nurses Play in Serving Children with Special Health Needs

Abstract Public Law 99-457 Part H supports the development of systems to identify infants and toddlers with special health needs and provide these children the comprehensive care they need. Although public health nurses traditionally provide many of the mandated services, Part H, with its roots in education, presents new terminology, conceptual models, and challenges to public health nurses. An interactive videoconference entitled "Public Health Nurses and Part H: Putting the Pieces Together" was broadcast to 525 public health nurses in 11 states. The program goals were to increase knowledge of Part H among public health nurses and to enhance their role in its implementation. An evaluation was conducted to assess knowledge change and satisfaction with the program format. Results revealed a high degree of satisfaction with distance learning and no difference across sites in knowledge acquisition or participant satisfaction. A need identified through this project is increased interdisciplinary communication among those who serve infants and toddlers with special needs. In an era when financial resources are dwindling, interactive videoconferencing is an innovative and cost-effective method for decreasing the isolation of many public health nurses by offering opportunities for education and networking from their local communities.