Steps in Developing a Centering Model

The mission of the Centering Healthcare Institute (formerly Centering Pregnancy and Parenting Association, Inc.) is to change the paradigm of health services to a group care model in order to improve the overall health outcomes of mothers, babies, new families and all individuals across the life cycle.

CHI promotes the Centering model to the general public and provides education, training, and support for individuals and organizations throughout the world. Our goals include:

         • "Informing health professionals, students, parents and
             individuals about the Centering model;
         • "Developing, conducting, and evaluating training workshops;
         • "Providing consultation services;
         • "Developing and updating educational, training, and
             promotional materials;
         • "Credentialing CPPA faculty;
         • "Providing site approval to help assure model fidelity;
         • "Supporting research on the Centering model; and
         • "Assuring financial stability of the organization.

Step 1: Basic Information
Initial information on the model can be obtained through a variety of sources including CPPA's Information Packet, the CPPA Biz Card, information on the CPPA website www.centeringpregnancy.org or in a number of published articles, or through a short workshop or formal presentation. Another first step might be to send an "advanced scout" to a training workshop to get basic information to assist the site with planning and grant work prior to a more formal site training. Archived presentations on the Centering model can be accessed through the Clinical Directors Network, Inc (CDN) at www.CDNetwork.org.   Go to Pregnancy/OB-Gyn in the Archive library, "Redesigning Prenatal Care: CenteringPregnancy, Session #1 (click here) and Session #2" (click here).

Step 2: Training Workshops
Each site that is interested in implementing the Centering model should identify a Pre-Planning/Steering Group that will be responsible for the planning, implementation and evaluation of the model. This group should include one or more of the following: administrator, provider, nurse, medical assistant, front desk clerk, social worker, consumer, and possible a representative from a key community agency. This core group should attend a training workshop together unless the agency is sponsoring one of its own. Regular planning meetings of this group also will help assure success in implementation. Having released administrative time will contribute directly to the ability of the group to effectively guide the project.

If the agency sponsors its own training workshop, all people involved with the population to be served by the model should attend. This provides an opportunity for good planning as well as bonding among the attendees.

Advanced workshops are offered periodically and will help group facilitators to improve their group skills.

Step 3: On-going Consultation
At any time a site may request consultation from CPPA to help develop strategies to deal with challenges. CPPA encourages sites to stay in touch with the organization and to be part of the larger network of Centering sites. Following workshop attendance CPPA often will assign a faculty person to be available for follow-up.

CPPA expects each site to join as a member site (see Membership Sheet information on the website) to help support the needs of the organization and the email and phone consultation that is available. Joining formalizes each site's relationship to the organization, provides a special listing on the website, and gives permission for use of the Centering logo.
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Step 4: Site Approval
Once the first group series has been completed and another group has been started it is expected that the site will apply for Site Approval from CHI. This involves completing a self-evaluation report and documenting that the Essential Elements are in place. The site visitor will spend 1.5 days at the site talking with key people, reviewing documents, and observing a group. A formal, written report will be issued giving feedback to the site and an appropriate approval designation.

Sites have an opportunity to be designated a Best Practice….recognition reserved for the most outstanding sites. Site Approval is active for two years following which a short updated report will need to be filed. One of the benefits of site approval will be the possibility of participating in larger evaluation and research studies.

We look forward to having an on-going relationship with you. Our goal is for every site to have a successful Centering model.