Author: Kailee Curtis

Local Health Department

Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP)

The Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP) is Michigan’s largest, evidence-based home visitation program for Medicaid eligible pregnant women and infants. MIHP is administered by a network of certified provider agencies throughout the state in rural, urban, and native communities. Providers are located in private freestanding offices, hospital-based clinics, federally qualified health centers, and in local/regional public health departments

Key Positions
Public Health Nurse
Dietitian
Social Worker
Program Supervisor

Participation in MIHP reduces the risk of infant death, both in the newborn stage and in later infancy.

Meets Public Health Standards:

	Michigan Public Health Code
	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
	Public Health Accreditation Board

Services:
MIHP provides support to promote healthy pregnancies, good birth outcomes, and healthy infants. By enrolling in MIHP, families receive services from a team of nurses, social workers, and dietitians to connect them with the information and support needed to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. All pregnant women and/or infants under the age of one that are Medicaid-eligible are eligible for the MIHP program. Services include:
Maternal and infant health assessment completed by registered nurse or licensed social worker
Coordination of MIHP services with the patients’ health care provider and Medicaid Health Plan
A team of registered nurses, licensed social workers, and registered dietitians offer home or office visits to provide education and support based on the needs of each family
Transportation services as needed
Referrals are made to local community services (e.g., mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, basic needs assistance) as needed
Referral to local childbirth education or parenting classes
Goals:
Local health department MIHP programs aim to:
Reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality
Promote healthy pregnancies, positive birth outcomes, and healthy infant growth and development.

Impact:
MIHP programs help to improve health and well-being of pregnant women and infants — pre-natal and post-natal care is better, and infants are more likely to get well-child checkups.

Created by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department for the Michigan Association of Local Public Health with funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. August 2018.
*30 of Michigan’s local health departments indicated that they offer MIHP Programs (of 39 who participated in the survey). Participants might not have answered each question.