New research adds to 30 years of evidence demonstrating the power of HealthySteps, a pediatric primary care program of ZERO TO THREE, to connect families with babies and toddlers to the care and supports they need.
In a Medicaid claims analysis of HealthySteps Tier 3 (comprehensive) services in New York City, children who received HealthySteps comprehensive services showed greater engagement in primary care, continuity of care, and receipt of preventive screenings and services (e.g., Early Intervention), compared with similar Medicaid-insured children. The findings were especially promising for Black and Hispanic children, pointing to HealthySteps’ potential to advance more equitable access to preventive care.
The study also found positive associations for mothers, including higher receipt of family planning services, maternal depression screening, and postpartum care—reinforcing HealthySteps as a whole-family model that supports babies, toddlers, and caregivers during the earliest and most foundational years of life.
The study was done by NYU’s Health Evaluation and Analytics Lab (HEAL) in partnership with the HealthySteps National Office at ZERO TO THREE and 24 HealthySteps sites in New York City.