Max Rady College of Medicine

Term: Families First Screen (FFS) / Screening Form

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Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2013-06-05

Definition:

A brief measure of biological, social, and demographic risk factors. Public Health Nurses in Manitoba attempt to assess all families with newborns within a week of discharge from the hospital. Families are asked about supports and challenges, including parental alcohol and drug use; parental history regarding anxiety disorders, depression, child abuse, criminal involvement, and education; and physical and medical characteristics of the child. Three or more risk factors indicate that a family may require additional supports such as intensive home visiting, financial support, parenting programs, mental health services, or child care.

The Families First (previously known as BabyFirst - see note below) screening form is the first of two screening stages for Manitoba's Families First home visiting program.

NOTE:

  • In 2003, the screen and the home visiting program changed names from BabyFirst to Families First to better reflect a family-centered approach (Brownell et al., 2012).
  • The FFS form is not given to women living on reserve.
For more information on the type of information available from the screening form, please read the Families First Screening (FFS) / BabyFirst Screening (BFS) - Method of Creating a FFS / BFS Dataset concept.

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Related terms 

References 

  • Brownell M, Chartier M, Santos R, Ekuma O, Au W, Sarkar J, MacWilliam L, Burland E, Koseva I, Guenette W. How are Manitoba's Children Doing? Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] [Additional Materials] (View)
  • Brownell M, De Coster C, Penfold R, Derksen S, Au W, Schultz J, Dahl M. Manitoba Child Health Atlas Update. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2008. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)
  • Chartier M, Finlayson G, Prior H, McGowan K, Chen H, de Rocquigny J, Walld R, Gousseau M. Health and Healthcare Utilization of Francophones in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] (View)
  • Heaman M, Kingston D, Helewa M, Brownell M, Derksen S, Bogdanovic B, McGowan K, Bailly A. Perinatal Services and Outcomes in Manitoba. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2012. [Report] [Summary] [Updates and Errata] (View)
  • Smith M, Finlayson G, Martens P, Dunn J, Prior H, Taylor C, Soodeen RA, Burchill C, Guenette W, Hinds A. Social Housing in Manitoba. Part II: Social Housing and Health in Manitoba: A First Look. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2013. [Report] [Summary] (View)

Term used in 

  • Ruth C, Brownell M, Isbister J, MacWilliam L, Gammon H, Singal D, Soodeen R, McGowan K, Kulbaba C, Boriskewich E. Long-Term Outcomes Of Manitoba's Insight Mentoring Program: A Comparative Statistical Analysis . Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2015. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)


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Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine,
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences,
Room 408-727 McDermot Ave.
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5 Canada

204-789-3819