DCMH adding to services with new Perinatal Nurse Navigator role

“This initiative reflects our deep commitment to helping families thrive”

(GREENSBURG, Ind.) -- Decatur County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) is introducing a new community resource to improve health outcomes for families in Decatur County.

Through the Healthy Start Communities That C.A.R.E. program, a Perinatal Nurse Navigator is now available to support families through pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood offering vital care coordination, education, and access to essential services.

This role is part of the federally funded Healthy Start initiative, which is designed to improve maternal and child health outcomes by reducing infant mortality and maternal illness through personalized, community-based support.

“This initiative reflects our deep commitment to helping families thrive,” said Jenny Simon, Chief Nursing Officer at DCMH. “Whether a person is a patient of our hospital or not, this program offers access to meaningful support and resources. It's about breaking barriers, meeting families where they are, and making sure every child and caregiver in Decatur County has what they need to be healthy and supported from the start.”

A Partner on Your Parenthood Journey

The Healthy Start Nurse Navigator is available to Decatur County residents who are:

• Planning a pregnancy

• Currently pregnant

• Postpartum

• Between pregnancies

• A parent or legal guardian caregiver to an infant up to 18 months old

• A mother, father, partner, or family member supporting a participating parent

  
  

Participants do not need to be patients of DCMH or its providers to enroll. However, all DCMH parents with children from conception through 18 months old are eligible to connect with the Navigator for support.

Services for Participants Include:

• Personalized case management and care coordination

• Administration of health screening tools to assess needs

• Referrals to community-based medical, educational, and social services

• Access to parenting resources such as safe sleep education, lactation support, mental health information, and parenthood/caregiving education

• A welcome bag filled with essentials and educational materials

• Connection to Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) Help, a confidential online referral system for services like housing, transportation, and food

• Guidance on insurance through Connecting Kids to Coverage-IN

  
  

Get Started Today

To learn more or enroll, Decatur County residents can contact the Perinatal Navigator by calling 812-222-BABY (2229).