Service Model

The Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Program is a targeted community based service providing support, linkages and education; it is not a clinical antenatal care service. The Program will work collaboratively with specialist services such Drug and Alcohol Services, Mental Health Services and Child Protection Services but remains generalist in nature.

The Program is underpinned by the following principles:

• Partnership and collaboration with other service providers
• Population based planning where services respond to population need, and focus on redressing disadvantage.
• A social model of health.
• Utilization of Strengths Based Approach – that recognises and builds on women’s existing skills and resources.
• Use of Evidence based, reflective practice

Access to the Program

Women will access the program through:

• Outreach from Community Health Services (CHS)
• Referral from:
• General Practitioners
• Maternity services
• Maternal and Child Health.
• Other local services such as Mental Health Services, Drug and Alcohol Services, Housing Services.

CHS providing the Program are expected to develop agreements with local service providers that will support referral processes.

Key activities of the program

The key activities within the program are:

• Client engagement- through assertive outreach, timely service responses and the development of a trusting relationship.
• Assessment and goal setting – using evidenced based clinical knowledge, and a client centred, strengths based approach.
• Care coordination/ navigation/ and referral- by providing support to access clinical antenatal care services and maternal and child health nursing, and other services as required.
• Psychosocial support – by developing or connecting women to peer based group activities such as teen mothers groups, exercise groups, QUIT programs.
• Health Education – by providing individual or group education focusing on modifying risk behaviours such as smoking, poor nutrition, drug and alcohol use and prompt healthy behaviours such as breastfeeding.

Exiting program

The Program will support women in their pregnancy until they are effectively engaged with the Maternal and Child Health Nurse after birth. It is proposed that a joint visit with the Maternal and Child Health Nurse visit at four to six weeks after birth will be the point of discharge.

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Service model for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies program (27kb, pdf)

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