Transcript Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies

Cheryl Campbell
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
Why have the HMHB project?
Those parents who are most in need tend
to be the ones who are least likely to access
support (Fram, 2003; Ghate & Hazel, 2002).
There is a growing consensus that rather
than thinking about certain families as
being hard to reach, it is more useful to
think of them as being people whom
services find it difficult to engage and retain
(Slee, 2006)
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
The program is to provide support for women with
complex health, welfare and social needs, in partnership
and collaboration with other service providers.
THE FOCUS of the program is:
• to support women who are pregnant by improving
access to antenatal, postnatal and other health and
human services.
THE AIMS of the program are to:
• improve the health and wellbeing of mothers and
babies
• provide community based outreach supports.
The program and outreach model are considered flexible
and innovative (HMHB Final Report).
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
THE KEY OBJECTIVES of the program are to
provide assistance to women:
• to improve women’s access to antenatal and
postnatal care.
• to support healthy behaviors in pregnancy and
beyond, e.g. smoking cessation.
Why is Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies based
in Community Health Centres?
Community Health Centres are a good access
and referral point for local services and groups
that may be appropriate for the woman and/or
her family, e.g. community gardens, community
kitchens, young mums supported playgroups,
counselling programs and dental services etc.
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
Who are the women that have been
identified with complex health, welfare and
social needs?
 Women who are homeless or at risk of
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homelessness
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
Refugee and newly arrived women
Young mums
Woman with current or history of substance use
Women with intellectual and physical disabilities
Women with mental health issues
Women living with family violence
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
Housing security influences a woman’s social, economic, employment and community
participation as well as impacting upon her health and wellbeing.
The Young Women’s Outreach Program in Victoria reported that 64% of their client
were pregnant or parenting in 2008- 2009 (HMHB Final Report).
The story of support and collaboration between
agencies in the care of a young, homeless woman
in 2010. This is Jenny’s story.
(Name and image have been changed)
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
What does Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies do?
 Family centred practice- we are able to assist the woman to identify her priorities
for her family (based on the social model of health).
 The program provides support, links and community based education.
 We attend for home visits, or offer a safe visiting place of the woman’s choice.
 Flexible and longer appointments are available according to needs on the day.
 The program is FREE (at no cost to the woman).
 Interpreters are FREE (at no cost to the woman).
 Enhance and facilitate the referral process.
 Care co-ordination between services,
supports women to access the right service
at the right time.
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
Program achievements
 Women’s psychosocial needs were typically complex and multifactorial.
 42% of women were assisted to access and attend maternity services.
 8% of women attended their first antenatal appointment after 27 weeks of
pregnancy.
 23% were aged under 20 (Vic average <3% of all mothers in 2006).
 6% were Aboriginal (Vic average 1%)
 27% were refugees or newly arrived.
 52% of women reported housing insecurity.
 80% of women reported financial insecurity, with reliance on government benefits.
 23% reported family violence.
 41% of smokers modified their smoking behaviour.
 Referrals were made to services for other family members in 19% of cases.
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
The program operates in 8 local government areas:
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
What area do we cover?
Plenty Valley Community Health staff are
able to travel from Thomastown to
Whittlesea and Kinglake.
Depending on need and client load there
are occasions when we have accepted
clients from bordering municipalities.
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
Dianella Community Health
Covers the suburbs of:
 Broadmeadows
 Jacana
 Dallas
 Coolaroo
 Meadow Heights
 Roxburgh Park
 Campbellfield
 Tullamarine
The service is unable to accept
clients beyond these areas.
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
Program Evaluation: was undertaken by HDG Consulting Group.
The final report was presented to the Department of Health on 26 September
2011.
The success of HMHB in providing vulnerable woman with support during
pregnancy and assisting women to achieve improved health and psychosocial
outcomes is demonstrated in the evaluation report.
Please note this is
not an emergency or
after hours service.
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies
Referrals are accepted for women less than 34 weeks pregnant, consideration may be
given in exceptional circumstances.
Referrals are made by:
 Self referral
 Community Agencies
 General Practitioners
 Hospitals
The preferred method of referral is:
 E-referral: www.pvch.org.au
 Telephone: Intake worker (03) 9409 8724
 Fax referral to: (03) 9408 9508.
For further information Cheryl Campbell from Plenty Valley CH Healthy Mothers
Healthy Babies can be contacted on:
0419 486 873
We are not able to accept postnatal referrals.
17 July 2015
Cheryl Campbell