Healthy Start Moves Toward a Healthier Maternal Weight

Introduction: Federally funded Healthy Start infant mortality reduction projects now operate in 104 communities. Each is required to have an interconception care component focused on higher-risk women for the 24 months following an index pregnancy. Healthy Start participants are more likely than the general population to be low-income women, women of color, and within higher body mass index (BMI) categories. Healthy Start projects offer case management and services to support participants' weight management efforts. We will describe community-based strategies aimed at achieving and maintaining healthy weight during the interconception period

Methods: The Interconception Care Learning Community (ICC LC) adapted the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) model for quality improvement to Healthy Start community-based efforts. Geographically disparate teams from the 104 projects are organized into 15 learning collaboratives to achieve common goals. Change concepts include Development of Community Linkages and Partnerships, Implementation of Evidence-Based Tools and Protocols, and Staff Training and Skill Development. Three collaboratives selected healthy weight for the second of three action periods.

Results: Each team implemented a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle and collected data to measure its change. Changes in community linkages, BMI assessment tools, staff protocols, and education for Healthy Start project staff and clients have been reported.

Discussion: This session will highlight evidence-based practices and outcomes of the three healthy weight collaboratives. Barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for change will inform innovative approaches to promoting a healthy weight among at-risk women, and offer lessons learned for replication in similar communities faced with limited resources.