The Macon County Health Department’s Targeted Intensive Prenatal Case-Management (TIP) program’s mission is to decrease infant mortality, decrease low birth rates, and assure access to medical and dental care for women identified to have a greater than average risk of giving birth prematurely. Funds received from the Illinois Department of Human Services, local health fund tax dollars, and federal match funds allow this program to reach out to high risk pregnant women reporting history of: diseases that affect pregnancy, previous preterm birth, previous multiple birth, homelessness, alcohol or other substance abuse issues, and/or impaired cognitive ability. This program does not have income requirements and is available to any woman who meets the risk criteria as case load allows.
This program employs persons who have a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing with an emphasis on maternal and child health, community health nursing or public health nursing, and experience in working with young women and children. The caseload of high-risk pregnant women assigned to these case managers does not exceed 40 at any one time. The case managers have at least two face-to-face contacts with each assigned client each month between enrollment and six weeks post-partum. At least half of the contacts occur in the pregnant woman's home. Services include a risk assessment, anticipatory guidance related to pregnancy and delivery, multiple referrals including but not limited to: medical care, mental health, substance abuse treatment, smoking cessation services, and domestic violence intervention services as needed. All clients also receive a perinatal depression screening. Barriers to service delivery are assessed on an ongoing basis.
TIP staff also conducts outreach efforts to identify and recruit high-risk pregnant women to participate in this program by attending two local prenatal clinics every week. This program utilizes patient incentives to motivate high risk pregnant women to participate in services.
The TIP program provides cost benefits not only for the mothers, but also for the community as a whole. High risk medical care costs are limited or reduced due to improved compliance with prenatal medical care and improved status of infants at delivery. Other benefits to the community include decreased infant mortality and decreased low birth rates with subsequent decrease in developmental and physical challenges for infants born to high risk mothers. Benefits also include improved accessibility to service providers for at risk families.
Targeted Intensive Prenatal Case Management networks with community based social service agencies as well as medical providers to enhance service and referral. Examples include:
- New Life Pregnancy Center
- Planned Parenthood
- DMH and St Mary’s Prenatal Clinic
- Community Health Improvement Center (CHIC)
- Mental health providers
- Illinois Department Of Corrections
- DISTRICT 61 Schools
- Baby Talk
- University of Illinois Extension Office (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program)
- North East Community Fund
- Salvation Army
- Domestic Violence Shelter (DOVE)
- Growing Strong Sexual Assault Crisis Center