Search Results: MCHLine

Annotation: These clinical preventive service recommendations provide guidance on topics ranging from preeclampsia to neural tube defects that can help support evidence-based decisions.

• Link

Keywords: Guidelines, Maternity and infant care, Newborns, Perinatal care, Postpartum care, Prenatal care

Annotation: This online tool presents an overview of the "100 Weeks Project" by United States of Care, an initiative dedicated to addressing maternal health, particularly postpartum care, with a goal of ensuring women have comprehensive benefits for a full year after pregnancy by 2030. It maps the entire maternal journey—preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum—focusing on the disproportionate challenges faced by Black women, who are significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. The resource highlights pain points within the healthcare system, such as fragmented coverage, racial bias, and a lack of support for mental health and breastfeeding, alongside "bright spots" like community organizations and culturally-concordant care. State-level data illustrates disparities in access to perinatal health workers, postpartum depression screening rates, and insurance coverage for essential services like doula and lactation consultation. Ultimately, the project uses firsthand narratives and clinical data to advocate for systemic change and improved support throughout the critical 100-week period.

• Link

Keywords: Access to care, Barriers, Blacks, Healthcare disparities, Maternal health, Preconception care, Pregnancy, Prenatal care: Postpartum care

Annotation: This paper gives a historical overview of the Maternity and Infant Care (MIC) projects enabled through amendments to Title V of the Social Security Act in 1963. The paper presents available data on MIC project accomplishments, with particular emphasis on the relationship of the projects to the incidence of low birth weight. Topics include: the evolution of MIC projects; administration and financing; objectives of the projects; eligibility; coverage of women and infants at risk; quality of care; effects on the use of care and low birth weight; and cost. The difficulties in evaluating these projects is also discussed, including methodological problems and issues of interpretation. A list of references is provided. Tables with information on the projects and evaluations of these projects are provided at the end of the paper.

Keywords: Federal MCH programs, History, Low birthweight infants, Prenatal care, Prevention programs

Annotation: The Malheur Maternity Project (MMP) increased access to comprehensive maternal and child health care, provide individualized and continuous case management to pregnant and postpartum women and their newborns, and implemented planned and systematic educational programs to stress the importance of early and adequate prenatal care and child care. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Case Management, Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children, Parent Education, Pregnant Women, Prenatal Care

Annotation: This project developed a model integrated service system of educational, health, and social service programs for families of Hawaiian children (prenatal to age 5 years) who are disproportionately at risk for health, social, and educational handicaps. Four Native Hawaiian Family Based Education Centers were established, with three core educational components: A home visiting program, a traveling preschool program, and a center-based preschool. Activities included conducting an extensive assessment of community needs and developing ongoing ties with institutions of higher learning in the State. Strong health promotion and social service programs complemented the educational focus, and a case management system helped families assess their own goals in each of these areas. Community participation and ownership of the program were critical components. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Community-Based Education Programs, Data Collection, Early Intervention, Education, Family-Based, Hawaiians, Home Visiting, Infant Mortality, Learning Disabilities, Low Birthweight, Parents, Prenatal Care

Annotation: This project aimed to reduce postneonatal mortality rates associated with inadequate parenting skills and poor utilization of prenatal and child health care services. Activities included establishment of a resource mothers program in which church women were trained to assist pregnant women in negotiating the health care and social services systems, and implementation of a teen peer counselor program. The project also established self-sustaining local coalitions to monitor and address problems that contribute to poor pregnancy outcomes. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Adolescents, Blacks, Clergy, Community-Based Health Services, High risk groups, High risk pregnancy, Infant Mortality, Low income groups, Postneonatal Mortality, Pregnant Women, Prenatal Care, Religious organizations, Rural Populations

Annotation: This project surveyed 3000 postpartum Massachusetts women in order to identify barriers to, components of, and levels of participation in prenatal care, and to collect data on the social context of women's lives during pregnancy. Various interventions with high risk women at four demonstration sites were evaluated and compared. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: High risk pregnancy, Hispanics, Infant Mortality, Low Birthweight, Pregnant Women, Prenatal Care

Annotation: This project addressed high infant mortality rates in Detroit and Wayne County as the general area of concern. The problems of high infant mortality rates and access to prenatal care were addressed over 3 years through a program of technical assistance to the Detroit/Wayne County Infant Health Promotion Coalition. The coalition, comprised of 36 public and private agencies, was established to address the high infant mortality rate through identification of contributing factors and development of programs to reduce these factors. Process objectives included: (1) identifing barriers to prenatal care through a review of relevant literature; (2) focus group discussions with health professionals and clients; (3) development of surveys of prenatal patients and new mothers with review of their medical charts; and (4) provide technical assistance in evaluating ongoing and proposed outreach efforts. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Infant Mortality, Low Birthweight, Pregnant Women, Prenatal Care

Annotation: This project addressed the dramatic rise in homelessness and substance abuse, the relationship between the two problems, and the increasing number of homeless families. The Family Shelter Project provided leadership and coordination for a broad range of health, social, and educational services to be provided to pregnant women, mothers, and children in a therapeutic community which has been established within a city shelter for homeless families. In addition, the project established a professional development collaborative to enhance the capacity of health professionals and those in related professions to serve the homeless, particularly the substance-abusing maternity services population. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect, Collaboration of Care, Education of Health Professionals, Families, High risk groups, Homeless, Low income groups, Mothers, Pregnant Women, Prenatal Care, Substance Abuse, Urban Populations

Annotation: The project goal was to decrease the infant mortality rate in the target area to the national average by the end of the 3-year project period. The impact objective was to decrease the incidence of low birthweight to 6.5 percent and continue that downward trend to meet the U.S. Surgeon General's goal of 5 percent by the year 2000, and to increase Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment screenings to 80 percent of eligible children. The process objectives were to develop a one-stop perinatal and pediatric health facility, to draw St. Tammany Parish women into early prenatal care through aggressive outreach, and to develop a program of education and community support for indigent families. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: EPSDT, Infant Mortality, Low Birthweight, Motor Vehicle Crashes, One Stop Shopping, Prenatal Care, Unintentional Injuries

Annotation: This project sought to reduce infant morbidity and mortality due to low birthweight, and to demonstrate a cost-effective prenatal care program which was integrated into the existing system and can be duplicated in other states. Project objectives included: reducing the incidence of low birthweight newborns in the project; reducing the incidence of women who engage in high-risk behaviors during their pregnancy; instituting a model prenatal education, counseling, referral, and followup program in physicians' offices and other sites; and enhancing the education and counseling skills of prenatal care providers. [Funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau]

Keywords: Counseling, Education of Health Professionals, Education of Patients, High risk pregnancy, Infant Morbidity, Infant Mortality, Low Birthweight, Pregnant Women, Prenatal Care, Referrals

Annotation: This set of posters depict services needed for the health and welfare of infants. They address the topics of birth registration, proper care before birth, infant welfare stations, baby clinics, and child hygiene bureaus.

• Link

Keywords: Birth certificates, Child welfare, Community health services, Infants, Mothers, Posters, Prenatal care

Annotation: This booklet introduces expectant parents, doulas, childbirth educators, and clinical staff to TeamBirth, a collaborative approach that promotes patient involvement in pregnancy and childbirth decisions. It provides a structured format for communication between patients and their care team through regular "huddles" and a shared whiteboard system. The booklet includes sections on documenting pregnancy experiences, planning for different stages of labor and delivery, identifying preferences for pain management and birth support, and reflecting on the birth experience afterward. Practical tools include checklists for labor support options, discussion guides for admission and assisted delivery scenarios, and suggested questions to help patients advocate for themselves during the birth process. The booklet emphasizes that patients are essential members of the care team and encourages them to share their preferences, ask questions, and participate in decisions throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum care. Available in both English and Spanish.

• Link

Keywords: Childbirth, Collaboration, Labor, Patient education, Patient-centered care, Perinatal care, Postpartum care, Prenatal care

Annotation: This infographic presents data from the Kansas Perinatal Community Collaborative on their implementation of the March of Dimes' Becoming a Mom (BaM) prenatal education curriculum. It describes the evidence-based program's three-fold approach to perinatal care, education, and support, including its cognitive and behavioral compoments. The infographic compares demographic characteristics of mothers participating in the BaM program, shares self-reported outcomes and behaviors of program participants, and highlights key infant health metrics for BaM mothers compared to statewide data.

• Link

Keywords: Educational materials, Infant health, Maternal health, Patient education, Perinatal care, Postpartum care, Prenatal care

Annotation: This document provides guidelines for healthcare providers on drafting work accommodation notes for pregnant and postpartum patients to help them receive necessary adjustments and keep their jobs. It explains the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires covered employers to provide reasonable accommodations for limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions. The guidelines detail five key components of an effective work note: (1) stating that the patient has a limitation due to pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition requiring accommodation; (2) identifying the specific limitation; (3) affirming the patient can continue working with an accommodation, if true; (4) describing the recommended adjustment; and (5) providing an expected duration. The document includes a sample work note and an extensive appendix listing common pregnancy-related conditions and responsive accommodations. It also provides contact information for WorkLife Law's free legal helpline for guidance on work accommodation

• PDF

Keywords: Guidelines, Legislation, Postpartum care, Prenatal care, Working mothers, Workplace safety

Annotation: This Postpartum Healthcare Plan tool is a fill-in resource for care team members, community workers, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) professionals, and social workers to use with new parents/moms and birthing people. The tool is designed for distribution during final prenatal visits or at discharge and helps providers document the individual's specific postpartum medical, health care, and recovery plan, including details on treatment, provider referrals, necessary resources, and actions to take once home. The resource encourages preparation for healthcare at home and includes a link to a brief training resource for family members on urgent maternal health warning signs. This printable tool is available in English and Spanish (Español).

• Link

Keywords: Materials in Spanish, Maternal health, Patient education, Postpartum care, Prenatal care

Annotation: This toolkit for families describes the different types of perinatal care available and offers guidance on finding providers who will honor and respect their cultural backgrounds during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period in Georgia. It defines cultural competence and cultural sensitivity in healthcare settings and provides key considerations when choosing providers such as insurance acceptance, accessibility, values alignment, and cultural appropriateness of support services. The toolkit describes the benefits of various perinatal support providers including midwives, obstetricians/gynecologists, pelvic floor therapists, prenatal massage therapists, maternal mental health therapists, chiropractors, nutritionists, lactation consultants, and doulas, with specific provider referrals for each type throughout Georgia. It includes a list of organizations that provide referrals and resources, emphasizing the importance of respectful, culturally responsive perinatal support that meets families' unique cultural traditions and needs.

• PDF

Keywords: Cultural sensitivity, Culturally competence services, Families, Georgia, Labor, Perinatal care, Postpartum care, Pregnancy, Prenatal care, State initiatives

Annotation: This interactive map displays resources and services available to pregnant and postpartum women and their families in Maryland. Users can click on more than two dozen categories, including CenteringPregnancy sites, birthing hospitals, family planning clinics, home visiting programs, and care coordination and navigation services, to learn where in the state they can locate assistance. Resources listed on the map have been verified and confirmed to be offering the services listed and, where applicable, with licensed and credentialed human resources at the time of the last update (posted on the site). The map was developed at the recommendation of the Maryland Maternal Health Innovation Task Force as part of the Maryland Maternal Health Innovation program (MDMOM) funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration.

• Link

Keywords: Access to care, Health services, Maps, Maryland, Maternal health, Perinatal care, Postpartum care, Prenatal care, Resource materials, State initiatives

Annotation: This report presents recommendations from a taskforce convened to address maternal and infant health challenges in rural South Carolina. The document examines the significant barriers facing pregnant and postpartum women and their babies in rural areas of the state, including provider shortages, hospital closures, transportation challenges, and nonmedical drivers of health such as poverty and food insecurity. It reviews successful programmatic efforts including Family Solutions, Hello Family Pay for Success, and the Management of Maternal Diabetes initiative, as well as policy approaches from other southern states that have expanded practice authority for certified nurse midwives and strengthened workforce incentives. The report provides detailed recommendations organized into four categories: care delivery (including mobile maternity units and telehealth expansion), workforce development (addressing pay equity and training), training and education for providers and communities, and addressing nonmedical drivers of health through transportation and social support services. It includes extensive data on maternal mortality rates, provider distribution maps, and economic analyses of the costs associated with poor maternal health outcomes, along with definitions of key terms and comprehensive references.

• PDF

Keywords: Barriers, Infant health, Maternal health, Model programs, Postpartum care, Prenatal care, Rural health, South Carolina, State initiatives

Annotation: This online resource from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) provides support and information for pregnant women, new parents, and caregivers in Texas. The website includes sections covering pregnancy resources, parenting resources (which links to the Texas Home Visiting program), and information about COVID-19 and pregnancy vaccination safety. The resource describes legislative requirements for providers to give new parents and caregivers a pamphlet, available in English and Spanish, covering topics like postpartum depression, shaken baby syndrome, immunizations, and newborn screening. The site includes depression resources listing urgent assistance lines such as 2-1-1 Texas and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and provides contact information for professional organizations and counseling services across various Texas counties.

• Link

Keywords: Infant care, MCH services, Patient education, Postpartum care, Prenatal care, Texas