59 % identified having inadequate food or clothing
35% identified with unstable housing situations or homelessness
25% identified with a history of depression including postpartum depression
6 staff members
Beginning in 2003, The Guidance Center was one of eight agencies in Massachusetts chosen to pilot this program. EIPP starts early in pregnancy to accomplish the following:
Identify maternal risks
Offer comprehensive health, mental health and developmental assessments
Provide brief interventions in order to mitigate poor birth outcomes
Link families to community services
Monitor newborns through their first year
Monitor mothers for indications of prenatal and/or postpartum depression
The program is staffed by a Maternal Child Health Nurse, Clinical Social Workers and a Community Health Worker. EIPP is an off shoot of and fully integrated with The Guidance Center’s Early Intervention program. The EIPP staff works in both programs and help families transition to EI when necessary.
Check out our Public Service Announcement (PSA) on YouTube!
Services Offered EIPP offers comprehensive health assessments, health education, breast feeding support, brief interventions, advocacy and referrals to community services. Risk assessments include screening for substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health problems, homelessness, extreme poverty, immigration concerns and prior history of high risk pregnancy. The delivery of a healthy baby, development of a warm and nurturing mother/infant bond and a healthy first year of development are EIPP's ultimate goals.
Newborns are assessed at birth and two months. Developmental screening is provided to all children in the program at four, six, eight and 12 months. About 10% of EIPP babies are referred to Early Intervention and other resources to address developmental problems. Please click here for an EIPP brochure.
Languages Spoken EIPP services are provided in the following languages:
English
Haitian Creole
Portuguese
Spanish
Interpreters are hired for other language needs, including sign language.
Eligibility Criteria Women must be pregnant or their newborn must be under two-months-old at the time of referral. Women must meet certain medical risk factors (e.g., stress, previous miscarriage, high blood pressure, previous difficult birth, diabetes) and/or social risk factors (e.g., housing difficulties, basic needs issues, violence in the home).
Fees Services are free to participants. The program is supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health through MASSHealth and other governmental funding streams.
Referrals Referral should be made by phone and can be made by any of the following:
Medical providers
Self referrals
Social service agencies
WIC
To make a referral or for more information, please contact:
Megan Postal, LICSW, MPH Program Coordinator The Guidance Center's Somerville Office 61 Medford Street Somerville, MA 02143 Tel: 617.629.3919 x190 Fax: 617.629.4644
PLEASE NOTE: Do not include any client information when communicating via email. Email is for general inquiries only.
Newborns are assessed at birth and two months. Developmental screening is provided to all children in the program at four, six, eight and 12 months. About 10% of EIPP babies are referred to Early Intervention and other resources to address developmental problems. Please