BabyFirst Solano

BabyFirst Solano targets pregnant and parenting teens, pregnant and parenting African American women, and pregnant women who are at risk for or using substances during pregnancy and addresses the issue of perinatal health disparities. The goals of the program include:
* Increase the number of infants that are born at optimal birth weight in at risk populations.
* Increase the number of women accessing early and adequate prenatal and postpartum care by addressing barriers to care.
* Create a collaborative of service providers to coordinate services for pregnant and parenting women.
* Identify and address prenatal substance use in the prenatal care setting--provide and link women to appropriate services.

BabyFirst Solano aims to increase the number of women entering early, adequate prenatal care and improve birth outcomes for high-risk populations.

Less than half of pregnant women with Medi-Cal (CA's medicaid program) in Solano enter early prenatal care (44%). Nearly all pregnant and parenting moms in the program are enrolled in Medi-Cal (85%-90%). Through the extensive case management services, nearly two out of three pregnant moms (64%) receiving BabyFirst Solano case management services in Fiscal Years 2004-05 and 2005-06 entered early prenatal care, 20 percentage more than the overall Medi-Cal population. Additionally, nearly nine out of ten African American infants were born after 37 weeks of gestation (88%) and/or more than five pounds and eight ounces (87%). Finally, nearly all (96%) infants born to teens were connected to health insurance and a medical provider.