4253.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - Board 5

Abstract #16004

The Role of A Home Visitor Program in Maternal and Child Community Health Promotion: Findings From the MIHOW Program

Nedra Lisovicz, MPH, CHES1, Sonyia Kidd, MS1, Minda Lazarov, MS, RD2, Barbara Clinton, MSW2, Carole Manny, MPH2, and Rose Harrell3. (1) Center for Sustainable Health Outreach, University of Southern Mississippi, Box 10015, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, 601-266-6756, NEdra.Lisovicz@usm.edu, (2) Center for Health Services/ MIHOW, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Station 17, Nashville, TN 37232, (3) Neighborhood Educational Enhancement & Development Services (NEEDS), 610 Dumas Ave, Hattiesburg, MS 39401, 601-583-3350, N/A

The Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW) Program is a community-based, low cost intervention aimed at improving perinatal health and child development for economically disadvantaged and socially isolated families. Currently, the program is located in 18 sited in the Appalachian and the Mississippi Delta Region of the Southeastern U.S., where it is administered by local non-governmental organizations. The primary key to MIHOW's success has been the use of local mothers as home visitors. Because these natural helpers are from the community they serve, they can provide culturally, linguistically, and otherwise appropriate outreach, prevention, and support services that are based on and reflect the values of the community. This paraprofessional bridge is particularly effective in developing the trusting relationships necessary for successful home visiting among families dealing with extreme poverty and/or geographic and social isolation. In this presentation, we will describe the implementation of a new MIHOW program in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, along with plans for expansion into other Mississippi and Delta sites. Special emphasis will be given to programs components that address: 1) the degree to which the participant families, the home visitors, the sponsoring agencies, and the community have a stake in and benefit from program development and implementation; 2) the community needs survey; 3)challenges with home visitor recruitment and training; and 4)the MIHOW evaluation system.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, participants should be able to recognize successful strategies for the training and support of natural helpers as home visitors in a maternal and child health promotion program

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: MIHOW (Maternal and Infant Health Outreach Worker) Program) NEEDS (Neighborhood Educational Enhancement & Development Services) CSHO (Center for Sustainable Health Outreach)
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: 80% employment

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA