Families FIRST
An Investment in the Health of Women and Children
Families FIRST is a case management program of the New Mexico Department of Health, Public Health Division, funded by Medicaid to provide perinatal case management to Medicaid eligible pregnant women and children 0-3 years old. The purpose of perinatal case management services is to provide a voluntary home visit to eligible clients, to establish a medical home, and to assist clients in gaining access to medical, social and educational services that are necessary to foster positive pregnancy outcomes and promote healthy infants and children in New Mexico.
The Families FIRST program goals are to:
- Provide voluntary home visits
- Establish a medical home
- Strengthen the social support network, including family, friends and other informal resources in the community
- Improve pregnancy outcomes
- Empower families to actively participate in pregnancy, prenatal care and birth
- Improve immunization rates
- Reduce the incidence of acute and chronic illness, accidents, and injuries
- Strengthen interactions between parents and children
- Increase levels of prenatal care and participation in EPSDT (Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment)
The Families FIRST program began its statewide expansion in July 1998 through a network of providers comprised of Department of Health/Local Public Health Offices and private community health agencies. Last fiscal year services were provided to 3600 families by 41 Care Coordinators at 34 sites statewide.
Clients receive the following services:
- A case intake to ascertain the client’s eligibility and to gather information for the purposes of care coordination;
- Presumptive Eligibility and/or Medicaid On-Site Application Assistance;
- An assessment of the client’s medical/psychosocial strengths and risk factors;
- A plan of care that links clients with resources that address the problems/needs identified;
- Standardized health education and literature related to pregnancy, birth, newborn care and child development;
- Referrals to appropriate community resources;
- Monitoring and follow-up with clients to ensure that they receives the recommended services;
- A reassessment to evaluate the status of problems identified, and to identify additional areas of concern or risk.
