Background: The Lakewood Resource and Referral Center (LRRC) / Center for Health Education, Medicine and Dentistry (CHEMED), a FQHC committed to excellence in the delivery of quality Healthcare, and Social Services. The medical division accepts virtually all major insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare and offers a sliding fee scale for those without coverage. Our social services are provided free to the general public.

Setting: In 2008 LRRC was the recipient of a CDC Grant award, administrated through the NJ DHSS, Immunization/Vaccine Preventable Disease Program.

Population: LRRC has focused this grant primarily on Lakewood Township and Ocean County, NJ.

Project Description: Assist parents/guardians, in being compliant with CDC vaccination schedules for children 0-18 years of age, Provide education of the benefits vs. risk of vaccination compliance. Offer solutions when obstacles such as lack of healthcare coverage etc. are reasons why parents/guardians are not immunizing their children. Methodology: LRRC obtains information on CDC recommended vaccination schedule of non-compliant patients from a major healthcare provider, as well as from surveys administered to all LRRC Clients and CHEMED patients. LRRC Case Management staff contact the parents/guardians to obtain CDC recommended vaccination schedule compliance information. Information is then checked against the NJIIS. Additionally, CHEMED’s pediatricians and RNs are available to answer vaccination related questions.

Results/Lessons Learned: Using self created software, LRRC staff tracked and cross checked data and information. To date LRRC has obtained data on 5,077 children; 2,943 families, almost 50% have been brought up to date in the CDC recommended schedules as a result of this outreach and a majority has stated they will schedule appointments to receive the missing vaccinations. Future goals: Obtain statistics on vaccination compliance, reasons for non-compliance, out-comes after LRRC, General/Clinical Educational, and Case Management interventions and to formulate suggested long term interventions to increase vaccination compliance.