Who We Are
The Maternal and Child Integrated Mental Health Program (MAC-IMP) provides services that improve caregivers’ and young children’s health, growth, and well-being. Experts collaborate, identify patient needs, simplify service connections, and increase access to care. Team members include obstetricians, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, social workers, psychologists, community health workers, doulas, and others. MAC-IMP was launched in partnership with the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Each program within MAC-IMP aims to meet the needs of caregivers at different stages of the early development periods. Programs include the following:
- Postpartum Doula Program
- OB Community Health Worker Program
- HealthySteps
- Northern Manhattan Early Childhood Collaborative (NMECC)
- Obstetric Centering
- Early Childhood Community Health Worker Program
- Mom and Baby Bus
Postpartum Doula Program
Postpartum Doulas provide medical, psychosocial, and mental health support to new parents. Doulas provide orientation to care, support in completing a birth plan, weekly visits during the postpartum period to support and assess for post-delivery complications. Doulas also offer education on breastfeeding and address issues of postpartum depression, supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of the mom. The postpartum doula program spans across three hospitals, Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), Weill Cornell Medical Center, and NYP-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.
Postpartum Doulas: Helping Mothers When the Baby Comes Home
OB Community Health Worker Program
Initiated in early 2022, the OB Community Health Worker (CHW) Program represents a partnership with local community-based organizations and Mother and Child Integrated Mental Health Programs (MAC-IMP). OB CHWs support expecting mothers throughout the stages of pregnancy to improve maternal health outcomes by removing barriers to care and by providing access to social services, advocacy, community resources, and social support. Bilingual CHWs are based in community-based organizations, allowing them to remain anchored in the community while maintaining a strong presence in the hospital, where they provide culturally sensitive education, community linkage, and social support to patients. The OB CHW help to connect participants to perinatal and breastfeeding education, individual visits with a postpartum doula, mental health counseling, peer navigation, and community resources to bolster social support.
Center for Community Health Navigation
HealthySteps
HealthySteps begins during pregnancy by offering behavioral health support in the obstetric and pediatric care environment. For some families, HealthySteps provides continuous support for psychological, developmental, medical, and psychosocial concerns from pregnancy through early childhood.
HealthySteps, a national evidence-based program, begins during pregnancy by offering behavioral health support in the obstetric and pediatric care environment. For some families, HealthySteps provides continuous support for psychological, developmental, medical, and psychosocial concerns from pregnancy through early childhood.
Northern Manhattan Early Childhood Collaborative (NMECC)
NMECC, led by NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, is a partnership with local organizations that bring together community members and leaders. NMECC combines each organization’s expertise, strengths, resources, and mission to provide the overall well-being of all families. NMECC focuses on families with children five years old and younger.
Obstetric Centering
Obstetric Centering offers soon-to-be parents group healthcare visits for social support through educational sessions such as newborn readiness, mental health, child development, family planning, and contraception.
Early Childhood Community Health Worker Program
The Early Childhood, Community Health Worker Program supports caregivers of children with special healthcare needs. Community Health Workers (CHWs) from local community-based organizations offer health education, connection to resources, and social support. CHWs work with families to set goals and increase access to care, encouraging caregivers to navigate health and social services for their children.
Mom and Baby Bus
Mom and Baby Bus is a mobile medical unit providing community members reproductive, pregnancy, and postpartum care. Mom and Baby Bus aims to serve as a bridge to care by offering pregnancy education, health support, and medical linkage to patients who face challenges getting to clinics. The Mom and Baby Bus project is developing for neighborhoods near the NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn and Queens campuses.
If you are a community organization interested in partnering with the Mom and Baby Bus for your neighborhood, reach out to [email protected].