A Mixed-Method Evaluation of the Impact of Social Risk Screening on Uptake of Social Assistance

Summary

Children are disproportionately affected by the rise in poverty rates in the United States. Economic hardships can compromise child development, overall health, and the ability to succeed in school and in life. The current economic recession and racial disparities underscored by COVID19 have magnified this impact on children and hastened the already rapid growth of screening protocols for social risk factors- such as food and housing insecurity, financial strain, and unsafe environments-within pediatric health care. However, it remains unclear what effect standardized screening has on family perception of and engagement with resources. Current implementation momentum for screening protocols is outpacing research, and is raising concern among patient advocates for unintended harm-alienating families for fear of stigma or worse, and overpromising services that may not exist. Through a rigorous mixed-method approach, the proposed study will explore the impact of screening on acceptance, perception, and engagement with social resources among families with children. Furthermore, by leveraging the new technology of resource mapping as the method of resource referral, this study will provide insight regarding its effectiveness as a social needs assistance strategy. The knowledge gained will provide guidance for policymakers and other healthcare systems on how to integrate social risk interventions into healthcare delivery in order to maximize the benefit to children and families.

Conditions

• Low-income Populations
• Social Determinants of Health

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Social Risk Screening Tool

Investigators will use an adapted version of the evidence-based WE CARE screening tool, which assesses need in the 5 domains most frequently requested by our patient population: housing, transportation, child care, food security, and household heat and electricity. This tool was selected as it is evidence-based, takes fewer than 5 minutes to complete, is written at a 3rd grade reading level, and allows for differentiation between social risk and caregiver desire for assistance, as well as areas of "emergency" need.

OTHER

Electronic Resource Map

All participants will receive access to an electronic, geographically searchable resource map hosted on Aunt Bertha

BEHAVIORAL

Resource Menu

Participants randomized to this experimental arm will receive a social resource menu tool, which assess desire for social resources.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Danielle Cullen, MD MPH MSHP · Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

100 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-04-19

Primary Completion

2023-09-22

Completion

2023-09-22

Countries

• United States

Study Locations