The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61366

Jana Aloo, MSW/MPH and Itika Greene, NP/MPH. Family Maternal and Child Health Programs, Contra Costa County Health Services, 597 Center Avenue, Martinez, CA 94553, 925-313-6261, jaloo@hsd.co.contra-costa.ca.us

Prenatal Care Guidance (PCG) is a bilingual (English/Spanish) home visiting program that has been improving pregnancy outcomes in low-income and immigrant communities of Contra Costa County (in the San Francisco Bay Area) for over 12 years. The primary goal of PCG is to help pregnant women obtain early and continued prenatal care in order to improve pregnancy outcomes, including reducing premature births. Each year, PCG Community Health Workers (CHWs), who are members of the communities they serve, provide resources and support to approximately 1,000 pregnant women. CHWs have the opportunity to assess families within their home environment and develop relationships that foster trust of the health care system and community resources. During home visits, CHWs assess family knowledge and access to services and link families with resources. This information and linkage improves each woman’s chance of having a healthy pregnancy and infant. In addition to home visits, the staff of PCG develops partnerships with clinic and resource providers, conduct outreach to community residents and organizations, participates in task forces and collaboratives with other providers, and develops creative projects that build linkages between pregnant women and health care services. These efforts by PCG have provided low-income women in Contra Costa much needed information and support, and contributed to the County’s high rate of women entering prenatal care during the first trimester.

Learning Objectives:

• Learning Objectives:
• At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to:
• 3. Identify key home visiting strategies that promote healthy pregnancy outcomes.
  6. Describe how health education and support uniquely provided by Community Health Workers impact pregnancy outcomes of low-income and immigrant communities.
  9. Develop projects that support families and build linkages between families and health care providers.

Keywords: Home Visiting, Pregnancy Outcomes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.