Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County, Inc.

Programs: The organization is the prenatal entry agency for the children's services council of palm beach county's healthy beginnings system of care. Through prenatal screening, assessment and linkage to services, the organization supports clients in need of prenatal care, health care navigation, medical payment source and other intensive social service needs to improve their birth outcome. This fiscal year, 2,161 pregnant women received an intake and were screened and assessed for prenatal needs. Of these, 94% were confirmed into prenatal care through an established medical home and 96% obtained a medical payment source. Through a wide variety of programs, the organzation has touchpoints with 67% of women who deliver babies in palm beach county.

centeringpregnancy is a unique, evidence-based model of group prenatal care that provides health assessment, education and support in a personal atmosphere designed for learning and sharing that is impossible to create in a standard medical setting. With sites throughout the county, eight to twelve pregnant women with similar gestational ages meet together as a group, to learn care skills, participate in a facilitated discussion with their medical provider, and develop a support network with other group members. This fiscal year, of the 277 pregnant women who completed the program, only 7% experienced preterm deliveries, just 1% delivered low birth weight babies and 92% increased their knowledge on the importance of prenatal care.

caps and cribs teen mom mentoring is a one-on-one mentor program that supports the educational, life, career and parenting goals of teen mothers in palm beach county. Volunteer mentors are matched with pregnant or parenting teens in high schools and provide guidance, inspiration and real life experience in a trusting environment to empower teens to become independent, self-sufficient young mothers and to support the elimination of repeat pregnancies. The program is recognized as a member of the national quality mentoring system by mentor and is one of only six organizations in the state of florida with this accreditation.

the organization manages the basics4babies emergency pantry for infants at each of its four office locations. This pantry provides diapers, wipes, formula and baby food on an emergency basis for families residing in palm beach county. In-kind (non-cash) support of the pantry is reported at $79,601. Grant funding is used to purchase formula and baby food to support families facing food insecurity. Circle of moms, a maternal wellness program, is the first of its kind in palm beach county designed to support the one in seven women who will experience mood and anxiety disorders before, during and after pregnancy. Through peer-to-peer support groups, care coordination and training for health professionals, this program aims to bridge the gap in maternal mental health services in our community. Small steps great parents is a free workshop series for pregnant and parenting families in palm beach county. Workshops include breastfeeding and nutrition, newborn care, infant/child cpr and child safety around the home and water. The program is designed to offer critical education to parents and caregivers and workshops are taught by trained healthy mothers, healthy babies staff, as well as partner agencies in the community. An average of 200 parents attend these workshops annually which are held throughout the county in english and spanish. Additional program support at the organization is used to focus on program development and enhancements, quality assurance, fund development efforts and other administrative needs to further the mission of the agency.