Specialized workforce provides critical care to Indiana’s most vulnerable population

Community Health Workers deliver programs and resources where they are most needed to close gaps and improve outcomes for moms and babies.

Infants and mothers are a vulnerable population in Indiana, with the state having one of the nation’s highest infant mortality rates. Furthermore, Black infants are more than twice as likely to die in the first year than white infants, and Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related condition than white women. IU Health recognizes the challenges facing this population and works hard to improve outcomes every day. A specialized workforce, known as Community Health Workers (CHWs) is delivering programs and resources where they are most needed to close gaps and improve outcomes for moms and babies.

Located in System Health Solutions (SHS), the Community Health team and its CHWs design and execute programs aimed at patients, communities and the state of Indiana. Through collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders, the team strives to promote wellness outside of the healthcare system by removing barriers such as access to food, healthcare and safe housing, which all play a critical role in health outcomes.

An important part of IU Health’s WeCare program, CHWs serve in various capacities and in locations around the state. In OB and family medicine clinics, they are embedded members of the care team working to address patients social determinants of health (SDOH) gaps. In patient homes, through the WeCare program, they partner with pregnant or postpartum parents and provide free visits through the first year of a baby’s life. At community events, CHWs conduct screenings, demonstrate safe sleep techniques and provide useful giveaways like prenatal vitamins, swaddles and blood pressure cuffs.

These important members of the care team serve as patient advocates and navigators, providing educational resources as well as emotional support to the most vulnerable populations. CHWs are empathetic and warm and take time to listen to the patients. They’ve received extensive training on conditions such as hypertension and anxiety and use their knowledge to help patients have the healthiest pregnancies and babies. Their specialized skills are critical to the success of WeCare and play an important role in IU Health realizing its goal to make Indiana one of the nation’s healthiest states.

CHWs impact by the numbers

Since its launch in August 2021, IU Health’s WeCare program has seen close to:

• 500 mothers and babies.
• 360 babies delivered to mothers who enrolled in WeCare during pregnancy.
• 300 WeCare babies turning one-year-old.
• 90% of Black WeCare babies born at average, or “normal” weight, suggesting overall healthy pregnancies.

The program also has reported reduction in tobacco use, anxiety and depression in WeCare mothers.