Helpline Launched To Help Moms

Last updated on Tuesday, March 1, 2016

(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana State Department of Health launched the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) MOMS Helpline Monday.

The new hotline replaces the Indiana Family Helpline and emphasizes services that can help reduce infant death in Indiana.

"The MOMS Helpline is a free resource that assists pregnant women in getting access to early and regular prenatal care," said State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams, M.D., M.P.H. "Visiting a doctor early and often can help give women the best chance of having a healthy baby."

The Indiana State Department of Health has identified reducing infant mortality, which is defined as the death of a baby before his or her first birthday, as a top priority. In an effort to help address this critical issue, the MOMS Helpline is committed to improving pregnant women's access to early and regular prenatal care and connecting them with a network of prenatal and child health care services within their local communities, state agencies and other organizations around Indiana.

When a client connects with the helpline, the communication specialist at the helpline identifies her needs by obtaining household and demographic information, verifying income and type of health coverage. Depending on the individual's health coverage or income, specialists aim to provide at least three referrals for every need by matching the person with resources in the helpline's extensive statewide information database. Once women receive the information and referrals, they are encouraged to call the providers in their network to make an appointment. If necessary, specialists are usually able to find low-cost providers who serve the uninsured and sometimes provide free services. Additionally, for the majority of cases, specialists are able to locate transportation services to and from medical appointments if needed.

The helpline incorporates many of the services from the old Indiana Family Helpline. It can connect Hoosiers with services that include:

Locating a health care provider
Prenatal services
Health coverage enrollment, including the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) 2.0
Care for baby, including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program
Baby programs, including safe sleep information
Immunizations
Baby items, such as cribs and car seats
Care for moms
Transportation providers
Free testing sites for pregnancy, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases
Housing assistance
Nutrition assistance, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Education referrals, including breastfeeding classes and job training programs
Behavioral health providers

Certified navigators are also available to assist Hoosiers who are applying for benefits such as Medicaid, Hoosier Healthwise, Children's Health Insurance Plan, Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Call 1-844-MCH-MOMS (1-844-624-6667) to talk to a specialist. The MCH MOMS Helpline specialists and navigators are available Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information about the helpline, visit http://www.MomsHelpLine.isdh.in.gov

For more information about the Indiana State Department of Health, visit www.StateHealth.in.gov. Follow the Indiana State Department of Health on Twitter at @StateHealthIN and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/isdh1.

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