Population Health: Enhancing Community Outcomes through an Inter-Professional Collaborative Education Project on Executive Functions

Population health looks at health outcomes for specific populations. Researchers, clinicians and policy makers analyse issues/concerns and data regarding health outcomes to determine best practices and programs to improve community health. Programs should focus on social determinants of health (SDH). Programs, which are interprofessional, collaborative ventures between organizations within a community, have improved outcomes. Executive Functions (EF) is a set of skills required to perform high-level cognitive functions and regulate behaviors. Weakened EF is commonly found in children with developmental disabilities, and in those without disabilities. Failure to assist children with weak EF may result in academic failure and disruptive behaviors, resulting in poor outcomes as they mature. Parents Reaching Out (PRO) is a non-profit organization devoted to improving the outcomes of families with children who have developmental disabilities. In collaboration with the University of New Mexico College of Nursing (NMCON), PRO has partnered to create an inter-professional evidence-based educational project to improve the outcomes of children with weak EF throughout New Mexico. Commencement of the project began in April 2016 and continues today. The program has dual processes and goals: (a) Upgrading and training of PRO staff in Executive Functions, (b) development of workshops, trainings and supportive materials for PRO staff to teach EF issues in the community and (c) enhance management of current health concerns (EF weakness) throughout the state of New Mexico. This project received wide acceptance by the PRO staff and the several community members who participated in the various forms of education provided. The project is on-going and the areas of outreach and education continue to grow.