The Baltimore Healthy Start Program

Enrollment into the Healthy Start program begins at recruitment. After enrollment, a case manager assigns the new client a Neighborhood Health Advocate (NHA) who  meets the client at home for an orientation visit within a week after enrollment. Services and resources provided throughout the program include:

• Home visits by a NHA  using the Perinatal Monitoring and Intervention Model

• Preventive screenings to identify pregnancy complications early

• In-home or center-based prenatal care by an OB/GYN doctor

• In-home or center-based testing and treatment for HIV/STIs

• Interconceptional services, including dispensing contraception

• Pregnancy testing

• Mental health screenings and appropriate referrals

• Asthma screening

• Visual lead screening of home at first home visit

• Transportation to health care appointments and center services

• Early childhood development  for children while clients are on site

• Parenting classes  

• Relationship counseling

• Breastfeeding education

• GED, computer  and employment readiness classes

• Emergency food and clothing needs

Substance Abuse Program

Healthy Start clients in need of substance abuse treatment and counseling  receive specialized support through a partnership with Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems (BSAS). Referrals are received from the Department of Social Services.

Life Planning Institute

The Life Planning Institute provides life skills training, adult literacy and GED classes, employment resources and development, and access to a computer lab.

The F.I.N.E Club - Healthy Weights Program
Families Into Nutrition and Exercise

The FINE Club kicked-off in May 2010 and is open to all postpartum or interconceptional Healthy Start clients. A Certified Health Education Specialist, leads the group in nutrition education sessions that include:  tips on weight-loss, meal planning,  label reading, and maintaining a meal diary. The group  meets weekly to exercise, weigh-in and receive counseling. 
 

Early Child Development Program

The Early Child Development (ECD) Program employs only certified child care staff who engage infants and children in developmentally appropriate activities while parents attend on-site groups or meetings. Parents can also participate in developmental activities with their children. Activities include:

Clinical and Family Planning Program

Clinical services fill gaps in prenatal care for women waiting for medical insurance. Healthy Start employs Certified Nurse Practitioners and an OB/GYN Physician with extensive experience in obstetrics and gynecology. Services performed include physical exams; testing and treatment for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, bacterial vaginosis and HIV; and appropriate follow-up treatment both directly and in coordination with Healthy Start Case Management staff and the client’s primary medical provider.

Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners provide services between pregnancies (the interconceptional period from the  end of one pregnancy to the next)  which includes family planning education and method administration,  both in the center and in the home.

This Clinical Team performs initial evaluations of client’s urgent health problems and monitors clients with complications during pregnancy and those who have had prior losses or poor pregnancy outcomes.

Belly Buddies™ Prenatal Group

Belly Buddies is a new approach to maternity care where pregnant women, with similar delivery dates, meet for 10 weeks to reduce stress, receive prenatal care information and share experiences.  The groups create an environment of trust and sisterhood as women discuss valuable information about pregnancy, risk factors, parenting and concerns.  Stress reduction activities like yoga, knitting and massage therapy as well as educational classes on positive parenting, nutrition and childbirth are also included in the 10 week series.

All women enrolling into the Belly Buddies program are assessed for depression using the ZUNG depression screening.  If the enrollee scores > 50 on the screening, she is referred to a Certified Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  If the evaluation by the LCSW-C warrants, the enrollee will be referred to a psychiatrist and follow-up will be monitored by the Case Manager.  In addition, enrollees are initially  screened for substance abuse and are assessed biweekly for changes in status.  When an enrollee is found to have a substance abuse issue, she is referred to treatment at the Centers for Addiction and Pregnancy (or other treatment facility as capacity provides).  The follow-up for substance abuse is monitored by a Healthy Start Addictions Specialist.

Chrysalis House Healthy Start Program

The Chrysalis House Healthy Start Program is a statewide transitional housing program that serves as an alternative to incarceration for pregnant women. Services provided are case management, medical and substance abuse counseling, parenting, life skills and job training. This is a partnership between Baltimore  Healthy Start, Inc., Chrysalis House, Inc., and the Baltimore Mental Health Systems, Inc.