Bringing Healthy Home initiative helps pregnant and postpartum mothers and their families
For most pregnancies, approximately 300 extra calories are needed per day, according to Hopkins Medicine. Meanwhile, many expecting families in Southeast Ohio struggle to keep enough food on the table to support a nutritious and healthy diet. Hunger is not a statistic or an abstract concept for these families, but a daily reality.
Bringing Healthy Home is an initiative of HAPCAP for Heath, which is funded by the Ohio Department of Health. The program provides nutritious food, education, and case management to pregnant and postpartum mothers and their families. Participating mothers must reside in Athens, Hocking, or Perry County, identify as low-income and food insecure, and be in any stage of pregnancy. The participants of Bringing Healthy Home will receive food boxes delivered to their residence, home visits and comprehensive case management, and opportunities for educational workshops and activities. This program aims to improve physical and mental health outcomes of pregnant and postpartum mothers and their babies by increasing food security, addressing individual concerns and goals, and improving one’s confidence in managing their health. For one local family, this assistance has made all the difference.
Maria and Jeremy, parents’ to 3-year-old Elijah, were struggling to keep up amid rising costs when they found themselves expecting a second child. Both parents work hard to provide for the family, but face barriers to gaining other assistance. During her third trimester, her healthcare provider referred Maria to the BHH program.
The BHH program provided much-needed support in the form of food, but also helped the couple navigate resources available to them, meet goals, and learn new skills and habits. The family’s caseworker helped them to acquire a new social security card and an identification card that allowed them to register for other benefits, and job opportunities. Maria and Jeremy participated in a SNAP-Ed class learning to make a delicious sausage pasta that is now their go-to meal!
When baby Aiden finally arrived, everyone chipped in to help. 3-year-old Elijah loves his new sibling and helps to get bottles, toys, and pacifiers when Aiden wants them! The BHH program continued to provide food postpartum, and helped prepare the family for their new life as a family of 4!
HAPCAP for Health is a program of the Southeast Ohio Foodbank and is made possible through funding provided by CareSource, CVS, and the Ohio Department of Health.
For more information on the Bringing Healthy Home program, or to apply, contact Lydia Dippre, HAPCAP for Health Coordinator at lydia.dippre@dev240.robintek.com. For information on all other HAPCAP programs contact Valerie Keeney at info@dev240.robintek.com.
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