Prenatal Assistance Program Helping Reduce Infant Mortality

Domonique Walker is grateful to be a client of Franciscan Health’s Prenatal Assistance Program. With the program’s clinical educators and mentors at her side, the 25-year-old Hammond, Indiana, woman confidently prepared for her child’s birth and infant care. She has simultaneously remained on track to receive her degree in psychology.

“It helps to know you have a network of people at your back,” Domonique said. “It has helped build my confidence.”

Prenatal care is very important for the health of both the expectant mother and her baby. The Franciscan Health Prenatal Assistance Program provides vital prenatal care and outreach to expectant mothers with limited family income.

Supported in part by the Franciscan Health Foundation’s Prenatal Assistance Fund, this important program for expectant mothers with limited resources offers resources such as:

• Pregnancy education
• Counseling
• Peer support
• Enhanced access to public assistance programs, community services and local hospital programming

Moms learn about prenatal care, labor and delivery, breastfeeding, car seat safety and CPR. They receive clinical support and education, access to case workers to help them access community programs, and the opportunity to work with a clinical therapist to look after their mental health.

“The Prenatal Assistance Program has been a fantastic partner for me,” Domonique said. “Without it, I would have had to ‘wing it’ through this whole experience.”

The Prenatal Assistance Program focuses on improving perinatal health standards of care and ensuring families have a safe environment for their newborn. Additional services are focused directly on identifying high-risk expectant mothers, encouraging early and comprehensive prenatal care as well as providing education and care coordination to increase healthy behaviors and reduce infant mortality rates.

Indiana’s infant mortality rate is higher than the national rate, according to the 2022 Indiana KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released this month by the Indiana Youth Institute. Infant mortality, defined as the death of a baby before his or her first birthday, is closely associated with premature birth and low birthweight. In Indiana, Black infants were more than twice as likely to die before their first birthday than white or Hispanic infants.

“Mortality rates throughout Franciscan’s service area are higher than state and national averages,” said Danielle Crowder, Northern Indiana and South Suburban Chicago Community Health Improvement director. “However, in collaboration with the State of Indiana, we have built awareness of the unacceptable levels of infant mortality and improved access to essential health services to reverse the trend.”

Better awareness among the at-risk population is making a difference.

Women like Domonique Walker have embraced the support from government, healthcare providers and the community; and it makes a real difference for the health of her and her children. Domonique’s two children, Brayden and Laila, are thriving… just like their mom.