
First Steps – MSS/ICM
Maternity Support Services (MSS) helps people have healthy pregnancies. Working with your MSS care team, you'll receive health education and counseling during and two months after your pregnancy ends (miscarriage, termination, or childbirth). MSS provides:
- Regular visits in the clinic
- Home visits
- Support beyond your doctor or midwife, including nurses, nutritionists, social workers, and community health workers
- Referrals to pregnancy and after-pregnancy care, WIC, health insurance and other community resources
MSS is part of the First Steps Program and is available to people who are pregnant through Medicaid.
- Finding a doctor for you during and after your pregnancy (miscarriage, termination, or childbirth)
- Finding a doctor for your baby
- Learning how pregnancy affects you during and after
- Birth control, sexual health, and family planning services
- Learning about fetal growth and development
- Learning about childbirth and parenting
- Caring for new babies
- Learning about infant brain development and cues
- Planning your family
- Breastfeeding/chestfeeding support
- Learning about healthy foods for you during and two months after your pregnancy (miscarriage, termination, or childbirth)
- Learning about healthy foods for a new baby
- Managing health concerns; high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or weight
- Receiving breastfeeding/chestfeeding education and support
- Learning about infant feeding
- Adjusting during and after a pregnancy ends (miscarriage, termination, or childbirth)
- Adjusting to a new baby
- Strengthening relationships with family and friends
- Talking about feeling stressed, sad, or depressed
- Learning about effects of drugs and alcohol on you
- Learning about effects of drugs and alcohol on a baby
- Talking about drugs and alcohol concerns
Call the Parent Child Health referral line at 206-263-8374:
- Medicaid insurance coverage
- Housing, food, dental, vision and financial assistance
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Classes on childbirth and parenting
- Pregnancy clothes and baby supplies
- Birth control and sexual health
- Counseling for mental health or substance use/abuse
- Domestic or family violence resources
- Educational needs
- Early Head Start
How to make a referral
Download and complete a fillable PDF form to make a referral for Parent Child Health (PCH) services, including Public Health Nurse home visits, or call the PCH Information and Referral Line at 206-263-8374.
Services available at multiple locations, including home visits
Public Health providers (which include nurses, social workers, nutritionists, and community health workers) provide information and counseling around health concerns, mental health, nutrition, pregnancy, and child health for Medicaid-eligible pregnant and parenting clients in King County.
Services can be provided at Public Health Centers, community partner sites, and through home visits.
- MSS and ICM
- Nurse Family Partnership: visits to first time people who are pregnant (< = 26 weeks gestation) and their infants until age 2. Within Seattle city limits there is no age restriction; for those living in King county, age is < 23 years.
- Children with Special Health Care Needs: telephonic and home visits to infants & children under age 18.
How to make a referral
Download and complete a fillable PDF form to make a referral for Parent Child Health (PCH) services, including Public Health home visits, or call the PCH Information and Referral Line at 206-263-8374.
Research has shown that people who get into prenatal care early, and who receive adequate prenatal care, have healthier pregnancies and healthier babies. Without Maternity Support Services (MSS), many low-income people who are pregnant would not access prenatal care until later in their pregnancy—some would not access prenatal care at all.
MSS prevents an estimated $5.3 million in hospital costs in Washington state each year by reducing the number of babies born with low birth weight. Learn more.
How to access First Steps and WIC services
Public Health offers First Steps and WIC services at multiple locations across King County. Home or off-site visits are also available. To schedule an appointment, call 206-263-9300.
See also: Lactation Coalition of King County (PDF) for a list of services, resources, support, consultation, lactation classes, and more.
Locations in Seattle/Shoreline/Skyway
4400 37th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Phone: 206-263-7908
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
2124 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
Phone: 206-477-2335
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
2611 NE 125th St., Suite #145, Seattle, WA 98125
Phone: 206-477-0014
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Tuesday and Thursday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
10521 Meridian Ave N, 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: 206-263-9440
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
17018 – 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA
By appointment only: 206-477-0014
1501 N. 45th St, Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-477-2335
First Steps and WIC availability:
- 2nd and 3rd Thursday of the month: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
6020 35th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126
Phone: 206-477-1870
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday and Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
9934 8th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98106
Phone: 206-477-0002 or 206-477-1870
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday and Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Locations in South King County
126 Auburn Ave, Suite 400, Auburn, WA 98002
HealthPoint phone: 206-263-2460
WIC phone: 206-477-1870
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday and Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
17500 SE 392nd St, Auburn, WA 98092
Phone: 206-263-2460
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
901 Auburn Way N, Suite A, Auburn, WA 98002
Phone: 206-477-0600
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
26401 Pacific Hwy S, Des Moines, WA 98198
Phone: 206-870-3588
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- 2nd and 4th Saturday per month: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Every Saturday: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
1335 Cole St, Enumclaw, WA 98022
Phone: 206-263-2460
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
33431 13th Place S, Federal Way, WA 98003
Phone: 206-477-6800
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Every 2nd Saturday of the month: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
13111 SE 274th St, Kent, WA 98030
Phone: 206-263-2460
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
403 E. Meeker St, Suite 200, Kent, WA 98030
Phone: 206-263-2460
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
25742 104th Ave SE, Kent, WA 98030
Phone: 206-477-6950
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
3201 NE 7th St, Renton, WA 98056
Phone: 206-477-0100
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
4040 South 188th St, Suite 201, SeaTac, WA 98188
Phone: 206-477-1870
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Tuesday - Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
17928 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, WA 98070
Phone: 206-291-7336 or 206-477-1870
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Every 3rd Wed of the month: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Locations in East King County
14350 SE Eastgate Way, Bellevue, WA 98007
Phone: 206-477-2335
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday - Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
10414 Beardslee Blvd, Bothell, WA 98011
Phone: 206-477-0014
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Monday - Tuesday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
39157 E. Commercial St., Carnation, WA 98014
Phone: 206-477-2335
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Thursday: 9:15 am - 4:30 pm
13030 121st Way NE, Kirkland, WA 98034
Phone: 206-477-0014
First Steps and WIC availability:
- Wednesday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
122 East 3rd St, North Bend, WA 98045
Phone: 206-477-2335
First Steps and WIC availability:
- First and Third Friday of the month: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Link/share our site at www.kingcounty.gov/mss