Statewide community-based preventive program that providers health assessment and education, parent education, family support, and linkages to community services to Medicaid eligible, pregnant women and their families in their homes. The program is designed to reduce health disparities for pregnant women and their infants, with particular emphasis in Medicaid-eligible women. Services are provided by multiple-disciplinary team throughout a woman's pregnancy and continues until her child is twelve months old.
Home Visiting New Hampshire builds on the existing strengths of families and seeks to promote maternal and child health by enhancing infant/maternal attachment through education, support and guidance. This model is implemented in 18 different regions of the state by community-based agencies under contract with NH Division of Public Health Services.
Goals of Home Visiting New Hampshire:
- Promote healthy pregnancy and birth outcomes
Home visits are provided to eligible women beginning the first trimester of pregnancy in order to ensure early access to prenatal care. All women are assessed for substance abuse, depression, domestic violence and other risk factors.
- Promote a safe and nurturing environment for children
Data surrounding maternal/infant attachment suggests that children who have a secure attachment to a caregiver develop stronger resiliency with outcomes reaching at least as far as early school age years. Using Infant Cue Sheets and Supplemental Educational Materials developed by the New Hampshire Bureau of Maternal & Child Health and Parents as Teachers Born to Learn curriculum, home visitors address child development, health and safety issues, while promoting a stronger relationship between infant and mother.
The modality of providing care and support in the home allows professionals across disciplines to gain a unique insight into the specific strengths and needs of an individual family. Home visitors play an important role in recognizing and raising awareness of the signs of maternal depression. Depression does not solely affect the mental health of the mother, but is integral to the mental health of the infant.
Home visiting nurses assess women for depression utilizing a validated tool such as the PRIME MD. Assessments are conducted throughout pregnancy and during the first year of the child’s life. Women who are identified through screening are referred to behavioral health services for treatment.
- Promote the life course development of the family
Home visitors work in concert with families to develop an individualized family support plan with each family. The goals for each family are based on the needs of each individual family.
