Healthy Start Program Survey Instruments

Attachment B8

Healthy Start Network Survey Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

HRSA’s Healthy Start Evaluation and Capacity Building Support Project

October 2022

Healthy Start NETWORK SURVEY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

1. What is Healthy Start?

Healthy Start is a national program of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The goals of the program are to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy; and reduce racial and ethnic differences in rates of infant deaths and poor maternal health outcomes. There are 101 Healthy Start programs located in communities across the country. The programs provide services to preconception, pregnant and post-partum people; their partners, infants, and children up to the age of 18 months. The services are tailored to meet the participants’ needs and the needs of their communities.

2. What is a Community Action Network (CAN)?

Every Healthy Start program has a Community Action Network (CAN). The CAN is made up of a group of people who come together to collaborate on strategies and activities to develop and achieve goals related to the broader goals of the Healthy Start program. The members include: current and former Healthy Start participants, other community members, and individuals representing community-based organizations, churches, health care institutions and providers, and state and local public health entities. The CANs usually meet regularly (for example, monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly) and participate in community-level activities and events. Some CANs also have committees that focus on specific topics such as breastfeeding. Some of the CANs are called CANs, but others may be called something else.

3. What is the purpose of the Healthy Start Network Survey?

Westat is conducting this survey as part of a comprehensive evaluation of the Healthy Start program, in collaboration with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This survey will help us better understand the participation of members and organizations in the Healthy Start Community Action Networks (CANs) and collaborations within the CANs to improve maternal, infant and family outcomes within the Healthy Start communities.

4. Who is paying for the survey?

This survey is funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

5. What is Westat’s role in the evaluation?

HRSA has partnered with Westat, a research firm, to conduct the Healthy Start evaluation and administer surveys across several Healthy Start communities. You may have received the survey and these FAQs from a member of the Westat team.

6. Who should complete the survey?

We are asking you to complete this survey since you have been identified as a CAN member by your local Healthy Start program.

7. Why is it important to take part in and complete the Healthy Start Network Survey important?

Your responses are important for us to develop an accurate map that illustrates the extent of collaboration among the CAN partners. Results from the survey will help the Healthy Start programs and their CANs to identify areas of strength and opportunities for further collaborations to meet the needs and improve the health outcomes for high-risk pregnant people, infants, and their families in the Healthy Start communities.

8. Do I have to take part in this survey?

No. You do not have to take part in this survey if you don’t want to.

9. What activities are involved in the Healthy Start Network Survey? If I agree to take part, what will I have to do?

Participation in this survey involves taking an online survey. Please use the link that was sent to you to complete the survey, and follow the instructions on the screen.

10. How long will it take to complete the survey?

The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete.

11. After I start the survey, can I stop the survey and finish it at another time?

Yes. You will need to click on the “Save & Exit” button to save your responses before you stop the survey. If you do not click on “Save & Exit,” you will lose any responses that you did not already save. You can return to the survey later using the link we provided to you to finish the survey.

12. Will the survey time out if I am not actively working on filling it out?

Yes. The survey will time out if you are inactive for more than 20 minutes. Please be sure to click on “Save & Stay,” so you do not lose your responses. If the survey times out, you can return to the survey using the link we provided to you to finish the survey.

13. What questions will be asked in the survey?

The survey will ask questions about the extent of your involvement with the Healthy Start CAN, your organization (if you are representing an organization), your collaborative relationships with others in the CAN, how effective you think your CAN has been, and your thoughts on health equity. Questions are multiple choice and free response. You can skip any question that you don’t want to answer or stop the survey at any time.

14. Will I get anything for taking this survey?

No. We are not providing incentives for participating in the Healthy Start Network Survey. However, your responses will help identify ways to strengthen programs designed to improve maternal, infant and child health outcomes.

15. Will my participation in the survey affect my participation in the Healthy Start Program?

No. If you decide not to take part in the survey, it will not affect your relationships or membership within Healthy Start.

16. Will my answers be kept confidential?

Yes. Your name and personal information will be kept confidential. We will do the following to make sure your information is kept private and confidential:

• We will keep the information in a secure and password protected computer.

• We will not put any name on any of the documents that record answers to the survey questions.

• Although your organization’s name will be linked to the submitted responses if you are representing an organization, your name will never be linked to your answers to the questions nor will it appear in any written reports or publications.

• Your personal information will not be shared with anyone outside of our research team. This means that NO ONE, including the funder, nor anyone else will have access to your personal information.

• We will not share information that can identify you, or share your contact information.

• We will not include any information in the reports from the surveys that can identify anyone who takes part in the survey. The reports will only show results that are combined from everyone.

• We will destroy all the information provided 3 years after the end of the project.

17. Are there any risks to taking part in this survey?

There are no known risks to participating in this survey.

18. Who should I contact if I have questions about this survey?

You can reach us by email at HSEvalSupport@westat.com or by phone at 1-8xx-xxx-xxxx.

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