Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition – Division for Pregnancy, Infancy and Early Childhood (PIE) Massachusetts Department Public Health

Record last updated 2023/07/27 Comment on this info .Update this info

Narrative

Early Intervention Partnerships Program (EIPP) is a home visiting program for pregnant women and post partum mothers in communities with some of the state’s highest rates of infant mortality and morbidity. Coordinated by an existing Early Intervention (EI) program, EIPP serves as a high-risk maternal and newborn screening, assessment and service system that is a key component in reducing infant and maternal mortality and morbidity. Women with social and environmental risk factors, such as homelessness, substance abuse or violence in the family, and adolescents who experience a second (or third) birth are eligible. EIPP services are provided by a multidisciplinary team, comprised of a maternal child health (MCH) Nurse, a Social Worker, and a Community Health Worker (CHW).  EIPPs provide maternal and infant health assessment and monitoring; health education and guidance; screening and appropriate referrals for pre-term labor, maternal depression, substance and tobacco use, and domestic violence; assistance with breastfeeding; parenting skills; and linkage with WIC and other resources.

Welcome Family is a program that offers a universal, one-time home visit to mothers with newborns. The visit is conducted by a maternal child health nurse and lasts approximately 90 minutes.  A follow-up phone call is also provided to document outcomes of referrals made during the home visit.  Mothers who are eligible for Welcome Family services include women who have given birth in the previous 8 weeks (ideally serviced within 2 weeks post partum) and are residents of the pilot communities of Fall River and Boston.  Expansion of services to other communities is expected in the next few years. All services are free and mothers will not be charged a fee. The primary focus of Welcome Family the mother and her newborn.  The father of the baby, partners, family and friends are encouraged to participate in Welcome Family services only with the permission of the mother.Welcome Family home visiting services are provided by a maternal child health nurse currently licensed as a registered nurse by the Massachusetts Board of Registration, Division of Professional Licensure. During the home visit, the Welcome Family Nurse will assess key focus areas including maternal and infant nutrition, including breastfeeding, unmet health needs, maternal emotional health, interpersonal violence, and substance use including tobacco. Following the assessment, the nurse will answer any questions and provide additional support and referrals as needed. All families participating in the program are given a Welcome Family bag that contains a swaddling blanket, water bottle, picture frame magnet, infant book, developmental toy, and nutrition guide.  The Welcome Family program serves as an intake system for an early childhood system of care.  A comprehensive evaluation is being conducted to determine the effectiveness of the program.

Service Types

• Case Management
• Family Support
• Mental Health

Program Type

• Case Management
• Communication
• Counseling
• Education
• Mental Health
• Support Groups

Populations Served

• All Disabilities
• Developmental Disability
• Mental Illness

Ages Served

• Birth to 3
• 19 - 22
• 23 – 59

Languages Spoken

• Haitian-Creole
• Other
• Portuguese
• Spanish

Accessibility Features

• Able to serve clients in their wheelchair
• Services at Home
• Services at School
• Services at Work

Additional Information

• Fees: Free Service