Annie Wood

Her work as a HealthConnect Fellow

(October 2019-June 2021)

Focus

Improving the well-being of mothers, infants, and children by expanding EveryStep’s Nine2Thrive project, which identifies pregnant women exhibiting signs of stress and connects them to community resources and support

Approach

EveryStep’s Nine2Thrive pilot project that took place in 2019 at Broadlawns Medical Center had already shown improved birth outcomes for mothers who were connected to services that addressed social determinants of health and maternal stress. Annie Wood focused her fellowship project on expanding the successful components of the model to other clinics that serve pregnant women at higher risk for stress and other health challenges.

Unfortunately, the pandemic significantly disrupted maternal health care. Patients were seen in person less frequently or used telehealth services, leading to a drop in referrals to Nine2Thrive. A champion at the Broadlawns clinic left, and EveryStep struggled to ensure that screenings and referrals were completed.

By connecting with Janet Horras, State Home Visitation Director at the Iowa Department of Public Health, Wood was able to secure funding to expand Nine2Thrive to a rural community in Wayne County. The EveryStep team worked hard to explain how Nine2Thrive filled a gap in services, and the eventual alignment with the Iowa Family Support Network became “a great fit for programming because of already established infrastructure,” said Wood.

Outcomes

An evaluation showing the success of the Nine2Thrive pilot project made the case for further expansion and support. Wood’s team secured funding and partnerships to launch Nine2Thrive in Wayne County to test the model in a rural setting. Nine2Thrive also expanded to UnityPoint East Des Moines/La Clinica de la Esperanza, which serves a large population of high-risk pregnant women in Polk County. The Nine2Thrive team is pursuing opportunities to reach more locations.

*In August 2021, Wood left her position at EveryStep to become the Ankeny Campus Program Leader and a faculty member at Des Moines Area Community College.