WESTWOOD—A UCLA adolescent pregnancy intervention program was chosen by the U.S. Department of Health program for funding under the health care reform act.

The Public Health Nursing Early Intervention Program (PHN-EIP) for Adolescent Mothers was created to improve pregnancy outcomes for young Latina and African American minorities between the ages of 14 to 19. The program is one of only two nurse models that have been approved for implementation by the Health and Human Services. The agencies that use the program receive funding under the Patient protection and Affordable Care Act’s Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, (MIECHV).

Teen Intervention Program receives funding under health reform act. Photo courtesy of UCLA.

UCLA Professor Deborah Koniak-Griffin states that over 400,000 teenagers gave birth in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control. “Unfortunately, the babies of these young girls are more likely to be born into poverty, have low birth weight requiring hospitalization and may suffer childhood health problems than babies born to older mothers,” said Koniak-Griffin.

The UCLA health program was first put into action along with the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. According to reports, the Early Intervention Program includes home visits from mid-pregnancy through the child’s first year of life. While conducting home visits, nurses focus on five specific areas: health, sexuality and family planning, maternal role, life skills, and social support systems.

“The cost of the U.S. Health care systems is approximately around $9 billion each year, so it is within the best interest of the state to ensure the well-being of the pregnant teens and babies,” added Koniak-Griffin.

States that are participating and receiving funding through the MIECHV program have to meet certain requirements over a period of time. These requirements may include health development, early learning readiness for school, economic sufficiency and child abuse reduction.

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