Maternal and Child Health Division
The health of pregnant families and their babies before, during and after birth is important to the City of Hartford. Parents who do not have health services or access to health services while pregnant can miss learning about medical issues that can impact a pregnancy, like a mother having high blood pressure or the baby being born too early or too small.
Since 1980, we expanded our maternal and child health services (MCH) to monitor those issues that may be creating challenges for pregnant families to carry their pregnancies full term. MCH has home visiting services to support families so they may have a healthy pregnancy and learn more about healthy lifestyle changes to support keeping their families safe and healthy. With the goal of promoting and improving the health of mothers, fathers, and children in Hartford, the MCH Division offers services to parents, children and their families through a variety of free-of-charge and coordinated programs.
Inquiries about MIOP, NFN, Federal Healthy Start Program, and IAP can be made to (860) 757-4820. For questions about the WIC Program, please dial (860) 757-4780.
Maternal and Infant Outreach Program (MIOP)
MIOP provides expecting parents with pregnancy education, intensive case management and linkages to community resources/supports. When baby is delivered parents and their babies are provided with milestone development screenings, post-partum health education/screenings, breastfeeding support and continued linkages to programs and services that will strengthen the family. Support is also provided to parents to identify and start working toward personal goals. Our goal is to help parents and their babies by removing barriers that can impact the pregnancy and babies experience in the first year of life.
Nurturing Families Network (NFN)
The Nurturing Families Network (NFN) is a program for first time parents who reside in the city of Hartford. The program provides prenatal guidance/education, parenting support, linkages to community resources and planning for the baby’s arrival. After the baby is born, the program conducts monthly developmental screenings and provides education to parents about how to best support their baby’s development. In addition, new parents are connected to play groups, learn baby care and safety tips for baby and are connected to breastfeeding supports. Our goal is to work closely with first time parents over a five-year period to make sure the child is ready for school.
Federal Healthy Start
Healthy Start provides parents who reside in Hartford with support to secure health insurance and access to health care services, complete health risks screenings and pregnancy education. After the baby has been delivered, we provide ongoing case management services, breastfeeding support resources, milestone development screenings up through the baby’s second birthday. Our goal is to help parents remove barriers and support family planning so that parents can return to work/school or complete personal goals.
Immunization Action Plan Program
The Immunization Action Plan (IAP) is a program that provides education about how shots (vaccines) are an important part of keeping Hartford’s children healthy. Shots help to prevent diseases by helping the body to learn what virus or bacteria it has to fight to keep the body healthy. Our program works with the state of Connecticut’s CT WiZ program which keeps a confidential and permanent record of shots given to children. Our program can help parents to access their child’s shot record which is required to enroll in day care, school, camp and college. Our goal is to keep Hartford healthy and protected against preventable diseases.
Women, Infant and Children (WIC)
WIC is a supplemental nutrition program that serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. WIC provides nutritional assessment and education, breastfeeding education and support, referrals to health care and nutritious foods to supplement diets.
In addition to the services listed above, it is the goal of the MCH Division to address the root causes of reproductive health inequities by working in partnership with organizations and policy makers to change the trend of current social determinants such as inadequate access to contraceptives and sexual and reproductive health education and sexual behavioral determinants such as lack of knowledge, contraceptive use and gender norms. It is the division's goal to works toward the development of a comprehensive and integrated health system to optimize family, reproductive, and maternal and child health outcomes. For questions about the program or questions about the Coventry Street site, please call (860) 757-4780. If you would like to reach the Main Street site, please call (860) 757-4860.
Hartford Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (HTPPI)
A federally-funded initiative, this collaborative program started in 2010 and is aimed at reducing teen pregnancy rates among Hartford teens by 10% by 2020. The initiative works with various community partners, including schools, afterschool programs, faith-based organizations, and health clinics to reduce the rates of pregnancy, STIs and HIV in 13-19 year olds in the City of Hartford. For more information about the initiative, please contact HHS at (860) 757-4743.