Inventory of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) for Healthy Start Programs
Evidence-based practices include actions, activities, strategies, or approaches that improve the health of women, before, during, and after pregnancy in order to improve birth outcomes and give infants up to age two years a healthy start. Also included in the collection are informational materials and tools that make it easier to implement evidence-based practices. To search by title, use the main search box located at the top of this page.
This interactive toolkit allows users to learn from participants in the Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network to Reduce Infant Mortality (Infant Mortality CoIIN). The resource is organized by topics from the initiative, including social determinants of health, pre- and interconception care, risk-appropriate prenatal care, pre- and early- term births, smoking cessation, and safe sleep practices. It features change ideas, model programs, videos, and key insights from teams who are working to reduce infant mortality throughout the country.
Topics:
Life Course Model Prenatal Care and Education Safe Sleep Tobacco Cessation
Approaches:
Promote Quality
Benchmarks:
Safe Sleep Smoking Abstinence
Evidence Rating:
III. Expert guidelines—Protocols, standards of practice, or recommendations based on expert consensus.
This interactive toolkit allows users to learn from participants in the Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network to Reduce Infant Mortality (Infant Mortality CoIIN). The resource is organized by topics from the initiative, including social determinants of health, pre- and interconception care, risk-appropriate prenatal care, pre- and early- term births, smoking cessation, and safe sleep practices. It features change ideas, model programs, videos, and key insights from teams who are working to reduce infant mortality throughout the country.
Topics:
Life Course Model Prenatal Care and Education Safe Sleep Tobacco Cessation
Approaches:
Promote Quality
Benchmarks:
Safe Sleep Smoking Abstinence
Evidence Rating:
III. Expert guidelines—Protocols, standards of practice, or recommendations based on expert consensus.
An in-person and telephone-based counseling program for pregnant African-American women with the goal of reducing behavior-related risk factors during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. In addition to receiving standard prenatal care, pregnant women attend an average of four behavioral counseling sessions during pregnancy and one session after giving birth. The intervention significantly reduced health risks from baseline to 10 weeks postpartum. Early results from a study evaluating the program’s impact on birth weight and infant mortality are encouraging.
Topics:
Depression Intimate Partner Violence Tobacco Cessation
Approaches:
Promote Quality Strengthen Family Resilience
Benchmarks:
Perinatal Depression Follow Up Smoking Abstinence
Evidence Rating:
I. Evidence-based practices—have been rigorously evaluated and shown to be effective by MCH experts.
In an effort to reduce children’s exposure to tobacco smoke, the Clinical Effort Against Secondhand Smoke Exposure program uses pediatric offices to provide smoking cessation assistance to parents who smoke, as well as to help families establish rules for a completely smoke-free home and car. Trained pediatricians and office staff consistently and systematically use a streamlined, three-step version of the traditional five-step (i.e., ask, advise, assess, assist, arrange) approach to smoking cessation and smoke-free home and car rule support. The program has led to an increase in the provision of cessation assistance and higher quit rates.
Topics:
Tobacco Cessation
Approaches:
Promote Quality
Benchmarks:
Smoking Abstinence
Evidence Rating:
I. Evidence-based practices—have been rigorously evaluated and shown to be effective by MCH experts.
Incentive based program to increase smoking cessation among women during and after pregnancy. Demonstrated quit rate of 60% at 6 months post-partum. Developed in New York, now implemented in 8 states. Mothers commit to quitting smoking while pregnant, and stay nonsmoking after the birth. Mothers must attend at least 4 smoking cessation counseling sessions, and agree to submit to breath tests. If mothers remain smoke free, they receive monthly vouchers for free diapers up until their baby’s first birthday.
Topics:
Tobacco Cessation
Approaches:
Promote Quality
Benchmarks:
Smoking Abstinence
Evidence Rating:
I. Evidence-based practices—have been rigorously evaluated and shown to be effective by MCH experts.
Calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW will connect you directly to your state quitline. All states have quitlines in place with trained coaches who provide information and help with tobacco cessation. Specific services and hours of operation vary from state to state.
Topics:
Tobacco Cessation
Approaches:
Promote Quality
Benchmarks:
Smoking Abstinence
Evidence Rating:
I. Evidence-based practices—have been rigorously evaluated and shown to be effective by MCH experts.