LAUSR

BACKGROUND Children living in poverty frequently experience health-related social needs. The pediatric primary care setting is a common touchpoint, allowing for risk identification and resource connection. METHODS This is an evaluation of the effect of a community resource liaison's (CRL) first year embedded in a pediatric primary care center, 8/1/2015-7/31/2016. Primary outcomes include needs identified and connections made. Secondary outcomes include preventive service completion and acute utilization. RESULTS During the study, the CRL interacted with 236 primary care patients, addressing 395 identified needs. The most common needs concerned housing and utilities, public benefits, and food/resource insecurity. The CRL patients were significantly more likely than non-CRL patients to be connected with on-site legal advocates, social workers, and an infant food insecurity program. There was no significant relationship with preventive service completion or use. CONCLUSION A CRL embedded within a pediatric primary care center enhanced risk identification and resource connection.