Early intervention Partnership

EI Partnerships is a home visiting prevention based program sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and MassHealth for pregnant women, mothers, infants and their families. The purpose of the EIPP is the early identification of maternal and infant risk and linkage of families to services to prevent or mitigate poor health and/or developmental outcomes.

EI Partnerships provides support services, health and parenting education, child development screenings, and referrals starting in pregnancy and continuing through the child's first year of life.

During a home visit, program staff will screen for risk factors that may affect pregnancy, health, or development and work with families to develop a Family Care Plan that addressees a family’s specific needs. This plan will be used to guide services to assist parents in meeting personal goals and in taking advantage of relevant services offered by the program as well as elsewhere in the community.

Services are confidential, available at no cost to families, and are individualized to meet family needs.

Referrals can be made directly to the program. Participant eligibility must be determined prior to the provision of services. Referrals are accepted for mothers from conception up to 2 months after the birth of their baby. A mom entering the program anytime during this time period is eligible to receive services up until 12 months of age of their baby.

Families are eligible for EIPP if they have at least one of the following:

• Maternal age <=20, with at least two children including the current pregnancy/infant or <=22 with at least three children including the current pregnancy/infant
• Violence in the home
• Substance abuse in the home
• Pregnant women who have had a previous poor birth outcome (e.g. stillbirth or neonatal death; a baby less than 1500 grams).
• Pregnant women who begin their prenatal care in the third trimester.
• Postpartum women who had inadequate or no prenatal care.
• Hepatitis B positive.

OR at least two of the following characteristics:

• Homelessness or housing instability
• Inadequate food or clothing
• Tobacco use
• History of depression, including postpartum depression
• High level of stress
• Current High-Risk Pregnancy

The EIPP Team members are comprised of a maternal child health nurse, a mental health counselor and a family liaison. Based upon the families' goals, an EIPP Team member provides brief intervention, health education and referral for such services as:

• Planning for your baby
• Access to primary health care
• Child care services
• Breastfeeding information and support
• Nutritional services including WIC
• Housing
• Injury prevention including car seat safety
• Family planning and reproductive health
• Parenting and support groups
• Mental health and substance abuse services

Serving the towns of: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Gosnold, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester and Wareham:

Kennedy-Donovan Center
Early Intervention Partnerships Program
389 County Street
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-997-1570

Serving the towns of: Southbridge, Charlton, Sturbridge, Webster, Dudley, Oxford, Spencer, Brimfield, Wales, Holland, Warren and the Brookfields:

Kennedy-Donovan Center
Early Intervention Partnerships Program
176 Main Street, Suite 12
Southbridge, MA 01550
508-765-0292