Core Services and Systems
Services provided by Worcester Healthy Start include but are not limited to:
Case Management
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Our comprehensive case management system constitutes a central component of what we do. The model is patterned after recommendations made by the American Association of Obstetricians. In order to provide convenient access to every client who walks into any of our sites, we have a set of well trained and experienced Perinatal Advocates who are 100% bilingual and are representative of the diverse population we serve. This unique make up of our case management team makes it possible to effectively communicate, build healthy relationships and provide psychosocial support services for all our clients. |
Outreach and Client Recruitment
The Worcester Healthy Start Initiative boasts a team of fabulous outreach staff (Community Liaisons) who provide extensive marketing and outreach in the Worcester Community. We have our marketing materials and brochures in more than 120 community outlets across the city including ethnic grocery stores, restaurants, barber shops, salons, small businesses and community agencies, churches and other religious organizations. We also use the mass media in conducting outreach. Our outreach team also conducts focus groups to assess community needs and resources. |
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Health Education and Training
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Our Perinatal Case Managers and Program Staff continually provide prenatal education and support on important birth related issues such as tobacco education and smoking cessation, stress reduction, parenting skills, Shaken Baby Syndrome, sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Family planning, breastfeeding and prenatal dental prophylaxis. Several other services provided include insurance eligibility, transportation and referrals to community based support services. The Program Director and other program office staff are involved in the provision of city wide health education through local television networks and radio stations. |
Interconceptional Care
All services provided in the program are available to our participants in their interconceptional stage. Our goal is to increase the length of time between births for our participants as this has a positive effect on birth outcomes.
Consortium
This includes the Worcester Infant Mortality Reduction Task Force and the Community Consortium. The goal of these meeting is to provide important health education and opportunities for clients to network with other clients, obtain social support, and also discuss WHSI program issues. Our meetings provide a culturally friendly environment for participants and we have witnessed an increase in the number of different cultures represented at the meetings. Interpretation is provided in Spanish, Portuguese, Somali and Kirundi at the meetings. |
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Local Health System Action Plan
The purpose of this plan is to ensure a coordinated, integrated system of care at the community level.
Other Important Services provided include: Depression screening and referral, collaboration and coordination with Title V MCH & other agencies.
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