Access to maternal care expanding across the state

Jefferson County, Ala. (WBMA) — Access to maternal care is expanding across the state. The University at Birmingham Nurse Family Partnership program was recently awarded $8.8 million dollars to expand.

The program currently covers 8 counties but will soon cover 35 counties. The program was launched back in 2017 in Jefferson county. It allows eligible mothers to receive at home maternal care from six weeks pregnant to the time the child is two years old.

The millions of dollars allocated from Health Resources and Services Administration will allow for the hiring of more nurses to be placed in each region across the state. Kaylee Baswell, a current nurse home visitor with the program says, each nurse can carry a case load of 25-30 moms.

"Up until now we have really only been able to serve a bubble of moms and so in Jefferson county we know that this works. We know that this is helpful," said Baswell.

Nurses can provide prenatal care, advocacy education, resources, and transportation to eligible expecting mothers at no cost. Candace Knight, the director of NFP for Central Alabama says, the program also helps teach expecting mothers how to advocate for themselves.

“Helping moms learn how to communicate with the health care team to ensure she’s getting all the services that’s she needs. Sometimes it’s just a simple making sure that she has the right language saying the right things to get the necessary care,” said Knight.

• SEE ALSO: Wallace State to offer evening nursing classes starting fall of 2024
• SEE ALSO: Jefferson County grants more than $1.9 million to YMCA project

To help tackle the emotional needs of a mother, the funding will also go towards adding a psychiatric mental health expert and behavioral health expert to each county. These experts can also perform home visits.

"Sometimes our visits are full of education. We’re talking about labor and delivery, and epidurals, and infant weight gain but sometimes are visits are nothing but building that therapeutic relationship. so catering to our mothers emotional needs is just as important as catering to their health needs," said Baswell.

The expansion will happen gradually over the next five years until each region of the state is covered.

Eligibility - Who can enroll in Nurse-Family Partnership of Central Alabama?

• Must enroll by the end of 28 weeks of pregnancy **for Jefferson County only
• Be a first-time mother (no previous live births) **for Jefferson County only
• Meets income requirements (eligible for Medicaid and/or WIC)
• Lives in an area where Nurse Family Partnership is available