Assessment of services and proposed interventions for pregnant women in Keene, New Hampshire

Grounded theory was used to develop research questions concerning the availability of services to prenatal women in Keene, New Hampshire, a community of 23,000 in southern New Hampshire. This project aimed to identify the domains of service and risk factors for the prenatal (and newly postpartum) population, determine whether these risk factors assessed and addressed in the prenatal and postpartum population in Keene, to assess the current offering of services in the Keene area for this population, and to identify any gaps in service for this population. It was found that while all of the risk factors that contributed to adverse birth outcomes are not routinely screened for by service providers, there exists an impressive offering of services and dedicated providers available to this population. When the network of services was assessed, four gaps in service were identified: a screening tool to screen prenatal women for these risk factors; care coordination; a database of services specific to this population; and a transitional housing designed specifically to best serve prenatal women. It is recommended that the screening tool, adopted from the Florida Department of Health, be used by every service provider who interfaces with prenatal women. A web-based database was designed, organized by risk factor, with the ability to both screen individuals and refer them to relevant services in the area. It is recommended that both of these (the screening tool and the website) be used to increase care coordination. It is further recommended that the community design a transitional housing program for expecting and/or young mothers to provide support, education, and care coordination. Such a website could be developed for the prenatal population in other communities, as well as for other populations (such as those recently paroled) and those in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse). Through these efforts the services that exist can be coordinated and used to their fullest, service providers can deliver the quality of services that they are dedicated to, and individuals can have the support they need to live the lives they want to live