Housing is a critical determinant of maternal and child health. We are committed to securing systems changes that improve access to stable, affordable, and high-quality housing for all mothers and children in Indiana.
Our initiative has two interventions:
- Healthy Beginnings at Home – A pilot program providing 24 months of rental assistance, housing navigation, and housing case management to pregnant women in Marion County
- Health-Justice Intervention – A project advancing housing as a human right for mothers and their families
Healthy Beginnings at Home
Healthy Beginnings at Home (HBAH) is a pilot program providing 24 months of support to pregnant women in Marion County who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. In addition to being recipients of this service, participants are part of our research efforts to show the impact of stable housing and social support on maternal and infant health.
Purpose of the study
To understand the effects of stable housing on health outcomes and healthcare utilization for mothers and infants.
Study structure
HBAH is a two year program for those who are enrolled.
- Two participants are enrolled in the study and HBAH program each month.
- The HBAH program provides:
- Housing navigation
- Tapering rental assistance
- Case management.
- Participants engage in interviews, surveys, and an optional focus group to provide insight into their strengths, current and past pregnancies, housing situation, and barriers to gaining financial stability, etc.
Who may qualify for HBAH
- Participants must have CareSource Medicaid. If you are unsure about your Medicaid provider, please contact 1-877-GET-HIP-9 (877-438-4479) to confirm your Medicaid health plan.
- Participants must be in their first or second trimester at the time of enrollment.
- Participants must live in Marion County.
- Participants must be experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Space in the study is extremely limited. Only two participants are accepted into the study each month.
Do you qualify for HBAH?
If you are interested in the study and believe you meet the qualifying criteria listed above, please complete the short questionnaire to determine if you may qualify for HBAH.
Questions
If you have additional questions, please contact HealthyBeginningsatHomeIU@gmail.com
Key Accomplishments
- Awarded $2.4 million HRSA grant to launch Housing Equity for Infant Health Initiative
- Grassroots MCH Leader Stephanie Caraway participated in IndyStar town hall on eviction
- Provided skill-building sessions and resources to affordable housing communities in Indianapolis
Partners
- Housing Equity for Infant Health Steering Committee
- CareSource – CareSource serves on the steering committee and leads the Healthy Beginnings at Home workgroup
- Indiana Justice Project – IJP serves on the steering committee and leads the Health-Justice Intervention workgroup
- Indiana State Department of Health MCH Division
- City of Indianapolis Office of Public Health & Safety
- Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition
- Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP)
- Wheeler Mission
- RDOOR Housing Corporation. – Supports implementation of the Healthy Beginnings at Home program
Resources and Links
- Op-Ed: I’ve been evicted twice. My ‘work ethic’ is not the problem. Here’s what it is. By Stephanie Caraway, Grassroots MCH Leader
- Op-Ed: After being homeless while pregnant, my baby is a miracle, but nobody should have to go through that By LaTisha Bolden, Grassroots MCH Leader
- IUPUI funding housing equity initiative to reduce infant mortality in Indianapolis, CBS4Indy
- $2.4M grant will fund initiative to reduce infant mortality rate. News at IU.
- Housing instability is linked to poor birth outcomes. An Indianapolis program aims to help. Indiana Public Media.
- Eviction Town Hall with opinion columnist Ruby Bailey. IndyStar.