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Prenatal Services

Home » What We Do » Head Start and Early Head Start » What We Offer » Prenatal Services

YWCA can support your family even before your child is born.

What are Prenatal Services?

The goals of our Prenatal Services program are healthy, happy pregnancies and positive childbirth experiences. Through a series of home visits and parent education (socializations), families receive support and comprehensive case management services during their pregnancy, at the time of delivery, and through the postpartum period. Once your newborn child is 6 weeks old, they are eligible for enrollment in the Early Head Start Program or enrollment in the home-based option.

Home Visits

Your Prenatal Service Worker will meet with you bi-monthly at home, or at an agreed upon location, to support you during your pregnancy.

During these visits, you will:

  • Connect one-on-one with your Prenatal Service Worker.
  • Receive education on topics, such as fetal development and establishing attachment relations with the baby.
  • Focus on personal and family goals throughout your pregnancy.
Socializations

Join other pregnant individuals and families at weekly parent education meetings, also known as socializations.

At socializations, you will:

  • Learn about lactation (breastfeeding) support, safe sleep practices, nutrition education, and other topics.
  • Connect with other families and share experiences of your pregnancy.
  • Discover resources and services within the community.
Who May Enroll?
To be eligible for YWCA St. Louis Early Head Start Prenatal Services, a person:

  • Must be pregnant (can be any age).
  • Must be in the first or second trimester of pregnancy (less than 27 weeks pregnant).
  • Have a total family (household) income at or below the federal poverty guidelines.
 

The YWCA has been such a blessing to my family… I got support with Christmas gifts, diapers and a coat for my toddler that I desperately needed due to not working because of my high-risk pregnancy. They gave me resources to help with my utilities and rent. I’m forever in debt to the people who worked with me.

– Mom

I like how my prenatal worker kept me informed on the resources out there and the sicknesses that other babies were having such as RSV. I am also pleased with the program because I will be getting a job out of it as well.”

– Mom

My car was in an accident, so I didn’t have reliable transportation. My kind Prenatal Service Worker (PSW) scheduled Uber rides so I could make it to my prenatal visits. My PSW also helped supply a car seat and baby clothing, which helped so much. I also got help applying for ARP funds, which helped pay for my child’s daycare and our utility bill. I’m so grateful to have a prenatal service worker at the YWCA who cares and who is very supportive.

– Mom

Application Process

Individuals who enroll in the YWCA St. Louis Early Head Start Prenatal Services Program are enrolling themselves and their unborn child. Newborn babies who have been enrolled with their parent in the Prenatal Services Program have priority enrollment for Early Head Start.

For additional information, please contact:

LaWanda Jones, MHCM | Prenatal Services Manager
314.427.4940, ext. 1038
ljones@headstart.ywcastlouis.org

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