The Healthy Start Program is a free home visiting service provided by the Anne Arundel County Department of Health for pregnant women, postpartum women and children up to two years of age.
Maryland Kids in Safety Seats Virtual Car Seat Assistance Program
Learn how to keep your child safe in the car while you stay safe at home!
New recommendations encourage parents and family members to keep baby's head uncovered when inside the home and especially when sleeping. Studies have shown that head coverings can increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death. This could be related to the baby overheating and if the hat comes off during sleep it could cover the baby's face and increase the risk of suffocation and strangulation. Covering a baby's head with a hat is only safe during the first few hours of birth. Remember to always keep baby's sleep space Bare, Safe and Simple! Visit the Safe To Sleep website To learn more!
Infant Care Resources
- Car Seat Safety
- Caring Cupboard
- Healthy Start Services for Pregnant Women and Infants - Services include health advice, referrals, telephone consultations and home visits, parenting support and child development information, baby supplies and transportation assistance.
- Infants and Toddlers (CDC)
- Immunization Services
- Lead Poisoning Prevention: What Every Parent Should Know
- Maryland Children's Health Insurance Program (MCHP) - Health insurance for eligible pregnant women and children under age 19.
- Medical Assistance Transportation
- Quit Smoking Help
- Recalls and Warnings for Infant/Child Products
- Sun and Water Safety
- Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program - Provides income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women and children from birth to five with healthy food, nutrition education and breastfeeding information and support.
Parent Resources
- Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services
- Anne Arundel County Domestic Violence Programs
- Bereavement Resource List - A resource list for Anne Arundel County parents experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth or loss of an infant
- Birth Certificates - Certified Copies from Vital Records Office
- Chrysalis House - Supporting women and their children through recovery
- Learn To Live - Free information on quitting smoking, secondhand smoke, healthy eating and other health topics
- Local Hospitals and Birthing Centers
- The National Women's Health Information Center
- The Parenting and Family Life Center at Anne Arundel Community College
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control - Parent Information Portal on pregnancy, infants and toddlers from the CDC
Pregnancy Resources
Medicaid Doula Program
What are doulas?
Are you pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant? If so, a doula could be helpful for you. Doulas provide support and information to birth parents before and after birth, as well as during labor. Your health care provider or your health plan can help find the right doula for you.
A doula, or birth worker, is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to birthing parents. This support can happen before, during, and after birth. Doulas serving Maryland Medicaid members will provide person-centered care that supports their racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity.
Doulas are non-clinical providers, and cannot perform the work of a nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner or doctor.
How do I know if I am eligible for doula services?
To be eligible for doula services, you must meet all the following:
- Be a Maryland Medicaid member
- Be pregnant, or have been pregnant within the last 180 days
Talk to your health care provider or call your health insurance provider for more information, or visit: health.maryland.gov/mmcp/medicaid-mch-initiatives/Pages/DoulaProgram.aspx
CenteringPregnancy Model of Group Prenatal Care
CenteringPregnancy is a group-based prenatal care model in which facilitators support a cohort of eight to ten women of similar gestational age. These visits consist of discussion sessions covering medical and non-medical aspects of pregnancy, including nutrition, common discomforts, stress management, labor and birth, breastfeeding, and infant care.
CenteringPregnancy has been shown effective in:
- Increasing breastfeeding rates
- Reducing low birth weight
- Reducing preterm birth rates
- Decreasing prenatal visit no-show rates
- Increasing entry into prenatal care during the first trimester.
CenteringPregnancy has also demonstrated that it is effective among populations of color, who disproportionately experience adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes. An essential element of Centering Pregnancy is its promotion of patient engagement and community-building, a component that can be missing from traditional prenatal care delivery.
Certified CenteringPregnancy Sites in Anne Arundel County
- Luminis Health OB-GYN Belcher 2
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Inc.
2000 Medical Parkway
Belcher Pavilion, Ste 309
Annapolis, MD 21401
- Luminis Health Midwifery Annapolis
2003 Medical Parkway
Suite G50
Annapolis, MD 21401
- University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Group - Glen Burnie
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Group
Executive Center at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center
300 Hospital Drive
Suite 226
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Additional Pregnancy Resources
- BWMC Nest and Nurture Program
- Dental Health Services and Pregnancy and Dental Health
- Birth Certificates - Certified Copies from Vital Records Office.
- Healthy Start Services Card (English/Spanish)
- Maryland Children's Health Insurance Program (MCHP)/Medical Assistance for Families - Health insurance for eligible pregnant women, parents and children under age 19.
- Medical Assistance Transportation
- MyPyramid for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Opioid Misuse Treatment - DenialisDeadly.org
- Preparing for Emergencies and Natural Disasters
- Reproductive Health Services - Services include health exams, family planning, and free pregnancy tests.
- Health Insurance for Pregnant Women – See MCHP Eligibility Requirements
- Pregnancy and Dental Health
- Fish Facts for Pregnant Women, Nursing Mothers and Children Age 6 and Younger
- Safe Haven - Anonymously and safely give up custody of a newborn.
- Smoking Cessation
- Substance Abuse Treatment Services
- Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program - Provides income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women and children from birth to 5 years old with healthy food, nutrition education and breastfeeding information and support.