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MOMS Orange County received a grant from The California Wellness Foundation to maintain the provision of its Maternal Child Health Coordination (Perinatal Case Management) services to pregnant and parenting women in Orange County’s diverse, traditionally underserved, low-income population.

The Maternal Child Health Coordination Program is funded in part by an $180,000, three-year grant from The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF).  Created in 1992 as an independent, private foundation, TCWF’s mission is to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention

A low-cost, high impact alternative to traditional case management and health education, the MOMS Orange County community-based “Maternal-Child Health Care Coordination” model provides access to prenatal care, well-woman care, health screenings, health education and referral services through monthly home visits and group classes.

“The California Wellness Foundation is pleased to offer this three-year grant for core operating support to MOMS Orange County,” said Saba S. Brelvi, TCWF program director. “Careful and targeted case management conducted by nonprofit agencies that know their communities well can help to ensure that women have the information necessary to protect their health and that of their families. This grant will allow MOMS Orange County to continue to create a welcoming environment and provide high-quality services for the underserved, low-income women in Orange County that have come to rely on the agency.”

MOMS Orange County clients receive one-on-one education and support during pregnancy and through the baby’s first birthday.  Mothers are educated and empowered to make wise lifestyle choices that affect the health and well being of the entire family as evidenced by improved birth weight rates, reduced rates of premature births and decreased Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission rates, all of which surpass local, state and national maternal-child outcomes.

MOMS Orange County has been recognized by the Health Care Agency of Orange County, the Children & Families Commission of Orange County, the California Department of Health Services, and the United States Congress for its innovative work in the community and impact on the health of women and babies in Orange County.