Indiana Health Centers, Inc. is proud to announce that our WIC site in Noblesville, Hamilton County WIC, will be hosting Baby & Me Tobacco Free classes. Below is a press release explaining this exciting new partnership!
Holly Wheeler FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/13/15
Partnership for a Healthy Hamilton County
317-842-2603
Hamilton County WIC to host Baby & Me Tobacco Free classes
Noblesville, Indiana – Hamilton County Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Partnership for a Healthy Hamilton County (PHHC) and Healthy Communities of Clinton County (HCCC) have partnered to offer Baby & Me Tobacco Free (BMTF) a program funded by the Indiana State Department of Health to assist pregnant women in smoking cessation. Participants who complete four classes and remain smoke-free are eligible for $25 in diaper vouchers for up to 12 months. They do not have to be WIC clients to participate.
“We are excited about this opportunity to assist pregnant women who smoke and their unborn babies,” said Sharon Barrett, director of Indiana Health Centers Hamilton County WIC program. “Smoking while pregnant increases the likelihood of low birth weight, preterm delivery and decreased respiratory function. This program fits with WIC’s mission to help women deliver healthy babies by educating them about proper nutrition and self-care, and keep their babies healthy after delivery by offering breastfeeding classes and checkups.”
Components of the Baby & Me Tobacco Free program are a commitment to become a non-smoker while pregnant and after delivery, program enrollment, attendance at four prenatal smoking cessation classes which include education about Indiana’s Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QuitNow, and passing a breath test for up to 12 months after the baby is born. Successful participants receive $25 in diaper vouchers monthly, which are redeemable at CVS Pharmacy and Walmart. Women who deliver twins or multiples are eligible for vouchers in the same amount for each child. Classes are held the first Tuesday of the month, 10:30 a.m., and the second Thursday of the month, 1 p.m., at the Hamilton County Service Center, 942 North 10th Street, Noblesville, which is where the WIC Program is located also. A classroom space was graciously donated, for use, by the owner and landlord, Senator Luke Kenley. Those with questions or who are interested in registering can call 765-659-6063.
The classes came to Hamilton County through a partnership between HCCC and PHHC. Both counties hold ISDH Tobacco Prevention & Cessation grant funding, which promotes Indiana’s Tobacco Quitline, 1-800-QuitNow. HCCC also has grant funding for Baby & Me Tobacco Free and is encouraged to share the program with surrounding counties.
“As counties we share the same goals of smoking cessation and Quitline promotion, and offering BMTF furthers both of those goals in a targeted, high-risk group,” said Kathy Martin, tobacco prevention and cessation coordinator and BMTF administrator for HCCC, who will teach the classes. “We want all babies to be born healthy and on time and are happy to collaborate in order to do so.”
“BMTF broadens PHHC’s reach in a critical component of its tobacco prevention and cessation program by offering cessation services to a population in which smoking endangers not just one, but two, people,” said Holly Wheeler, assistant director, PHHC, and interim tobacco prevention and cessation coordinator for the county. “It’s all about decreasing smoking rates, and helping pregnant moms and their babies do so just makes sense. WIC was a natural choice for collaboration because of its commitment to keeping pregnant mothers healthy and the relationships it builds with its clients.”
The BMTF program is available to other residents and caregivers to whom the pregnant mother and baby will be exposed before and after delivery. The child’s father or other regular caregiver, such as a grandparent, who complete BMTF classes, quit smoking and pass monthly breath tests, also are eligible for monthly $25 diaper vouchers.
All BMTF participants are encouraged to use Indiana’s free, phone-based tobacco cessation service, 1-800-QuitNow. Further information about the service can be found at www.indianaquitline.net.
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The Partnership for a Healthy Hamilton County was created to respond to the county’s primary health needs as identified by a Community Health Needs Assessment, an Internal Revenue Service requirement for not-for-profit hospitals (cdc.gov/policy/chna/). Community Health Network, IU Health, St. Vincent Health and Franciscan St. Francis Health collaborated to complete the assessment, which included resident surveys and data collection that measured the effectiveness of current programs and determined outreach to address shortfalls. Aspire Indiana of Carmel and Noblesville, the Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program, the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, Westlink Consulting and Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County also are represented on the partnership’s council. For further information, log onto hamiltoncountyPHHC.com, Facebook or Twitter.