When families grow – through pregnancy and birth, foster care or adoption, or other ways – community and social support is crucial. This is especially true in the early years. Early support leads to better outcomes for the child and the rest of the family as they continue to expand and develop as a unit.
At Springfield-Greene County Health, we recognize this early phase of life is both special and vitally important for how we develop and who we become. This is why we have maternal-child health programs, which provide support and connection from a family’s start. Our mission is to help ALL people live longer, healthier, happier lives.
One new program geared toward improving maternal child health is Springfield-Greene County Family Connects, which helps new families access reliable care and resources through home visits with trained nurses.
Every Greene County resident who gives birth at CoxHealth or Mercy will have the opportunity to be visited by a Family Connects nurse once they have brought their new baby home. Families who choose to participate in Family Connects will receive a home visit from a trained nurse within their first 12 weeks after discharge. The program is both free and voluntary to all Greene County residents including foster parents, adoptive parents and families who already have other children.
The first few weeks as a new family can feel overwhelming and there is often uncertainty. Through home visits, parents will receive infant education, weight checks, breastfeeding education and support, mental health support and more. In addition to education and support, nurses are available to provide referrals to community resources that fit the family. The primary goal of Family Connects is for all mothers, babies and families to have equitable access to care and social support. Simply put, we want all families to have everything they need to be healthy and happy. It will truly be unique to each family served.
According to Family Connects International, participants of the program are more likely to utilize out-of-home child care and other community resources and mothers are less likely to experience postpartum depression and anxiety. Additionally, participating families have 44% lower rates of investigations for suspected child abuse or neglect through child age 2. These outcomes are hopeful signs that children and families can benefit from our launch in 2024. Family Connects provides support from the start, ensuring all families have the opportunity to thrive.
WIC
Another avenue of family support available to many in our community is the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. WIC improves the overall health of families by supporting the nutritional health of pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding people, as well as infants and children up to the age of 5.
WIC membership provides families with nutrition education, breastfeeding education and support, supplemental food packages and referrals to healthcare and other community resources. For families who are WIC-eligible, this support can be the difference between surviving and thriving. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, people who enroll in WIC during their early months of pregnancy have fewer low birth weight babies, experience fewer infant deaths, see their doctor earlier in pregnancy and eat healthier.
In Greene County, and across the state of Missouri, WIC participation is lower than in other areas of the country, and many people may not know they are eligible for WIC membership. Residents of Greene County are encouraged to call the WIC office at 417-864-1540 to determine their eligibility. Our goal is for all eligible residents to receive the support WIC is ready and able to provide.
Both WIC and Family Connects serve families of all forms, including two-parent households, single parents including single dads, foster parents, grandparents caring for grandchildren, LGBTQIA+ parents and more. Migrant and refugee families are also eligible.
At Springfield-Greene County Health, our mission is to protect and improve community health. Between the efforts of these two programs, we hope that all families understand and utilize the support available to them, which can lead to significant positive impact across the lifespan.