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Indiana's Early Start Program
Indiana’s Early Start program is an initiative that provides supportive services to women to reduce barriers for accessing early prenatal care within the 1st trimester. Women who are not pregnant can also access early care through this program, including reproductive health planning and contraceptive counseling.
All women of childbearing age who are sexually active are eligible to participate in this program.
Each funded site offers free pregnancy testing to women, which allows immediate support regardless if the result is positive or negative.
Additional services are outlined below:
- Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) / Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Testing
- Health (and Pregnancy) History
- Overall Women’s (or Prenatal) Risk Assessment
- Social Determinates of Health Assessment
- Nutrition Assessment
- Height/Weight/ BMI
- Prenatal Labs, if applicable
- Dispense Women’s Multi or Prenatal Vitamin
- Trimester Education, if pregnant
- Contraceptive Education
- Discussion of Non-Healthy Habits with referrals
- Medicaid Enrollment, if eligible
- WIC Referral, if applicable
- Social Services Referrals
Pregnant women, regardless of risk or pregnancy test results, are referred to a sponsoring physician within 1-2 weeks for primary and/or OB services. The Early Start Coordinator will schedule regular appointments with the woman until Medicaid is obtained or a warm hand off to prenatal care physician takes place.
Women that may qualify for Medicaid, but are not already enrolled, will be assisted with obtaining presumptive eligibility, completing the Medicaid application, finding a provider that meets their needs, and any support needed to access early prenatal care and/or a primary medical home.
Regular face-to-face visits with pregnant women are a requirement of the program, whether in the participant’s home, at a provider’s office or another community setting. Visits and communications for pregnant women are scheduled monthly with the participant throughout their pregnancy and until three months post-delivery.
If a woman tests negative for pregnancy, contraceptive counseling will be provided. While the Early Start Coordinator is not responsible for writing a prescription, insertion or placement of birth control, education on contraceptive methods is provided, including oral contraceptives, barrier methods, fertility awareness planning, hormonal injections and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). Women are guided to make family planning decisions based on their needs and desires. Women’s multi-vitamins that contain folic acid will be provided to each woman who obtains services.
Early Start programs are required to provide additional follow-up telephonically or with web-based technology to remind members of appointments, and to convey additional information, case management and education.
Indiana State Department of Health Funded Early Start Program Sites |
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Agency Name |
Agency Address |
Phone Number |
Community Health & Wellness Center |
St. Vincent Medical Group / WIC 2415 Mitchell Road Bedford, IN 47421 |
(812) 279 - 6222 |
Harrison County Health Department |
241 Atwood St., Suite 205 Corydon, IN - 47112 |
(812) 738-1600 Option 2 |
Healthy Communities of Clinton County Coalition |
1458 Oak Street, Suite B Frankfort, IN 46041 |
(765) 659 - 6063 |
White County Memorial Hospital 720 S 6th St Monticello, IN 47960 |
(765) 659 - 6063 |
|
Matrix LifeCare Center 938 Mezzanine Dr, Suite B Lafayette, IN 47905 |
(765) 659 - 6063 |
|
Clinton County WIC Office 901 Prince William Rd Delphi, IN 46923 |
(765) 659 - 6063 |
|
Mental Health America |
Hammond, IN 46320 |
(219) 937 - 7733 |