This post was originally featured on MLBP.health, and was written by Amy Copperman. Click here to view the blog in full.
DULCE (Developmental Understanding and Legal Collaboration for Everyone) is an innovative early childhood intervention that is spearheaded by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, and was co-developed by MLPB. Since 2013, the national DULCE initiative has gained ground across several states.
What does DULCE look like in action? Pediatric and family medicine practices who adopt the DULCE approach commit to several key practice transformations:
- adopt a universal application for all babies 0-6 months cared for by the practice;
- assemble a care team that includes a Family Specialist, a medical provider, an early childhood systems representative, a mental health representative, a project lead, and (most important to MLPB) a legal partner;
- enable the Family Specialist to attend each well-child checkup during a baby’s first six months; and
- integrate social care, maternal infant health supports, and legal problem-solving into health care planning.