Scaling postpartum home visiting to improve uptake of public health guidelines in Medi-Cal and uninsured populations: The First 5 Yolo-Welcome Baby Project

Sarah Hartman, First 5 Yolo

Postpartum people and their infants who also identify as people of color, immigrants, and/or as having limited financial resources are experiencing inequities in pandemic recovery. Despite moving beyond the crisis stage of the pandemic, we continue to see that health and social risks for these subgroups are getting worse. In particular, we are seeing: 1) poor mental health, 2) lack of prenatal and postpartum care, 3) lower rates of well-child visits and infant vaccine rates, 4) continuing community stress, and 5) increases in rates of adverse childhood experiences.

To address these risks, First 5 Yolo has been providing a home visiting (HV) prevention program, “Welcome Baby” (F5Y-WB) for early postpartum people and their infants who are uninsured or receiving Medi-Cal. Over the last year, F5Y-WB has provided to over 400 at-risk families:

1. health information to improve understanding of care recommendations,
2. social connection and access to care,
3. timely and repeated screening and referral for health and social welfare concerns, and
4. care coordination to help patients return to primary care and receive needed services.

Despite the benefits of home visiting, few families in CA ever receive it. The purpose of our project is to establish F5Y-WB as a model, community-embedded home visiting program that promotes equitable pandemic recovery. Our team and approach unite the expertise of key stakeholders, including health and social service providers, patients, local and state policymakers, academics, and a local community leadership board to identify best practices for other CA counties to recreate F5Y-WB in their communities.

Results will help to make home visiting programs more widely available and support equitable pandemic recovery in these high-risk groups. 

Collaborators:

• First 5 Yolo
• Dignity Health
• CommuniCare Health Centers
• Winters Healthcare Foundation

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