Maternity Support Services and Infant Case Management (MSS/ICM)

Maternity Support Services (MSS) helps women have healthy pregnancies. Working with your MSS care team, you'll receive health education and counseling during your pregnancy and until your baby turns two months old. MSS provides:

Regular visits in the clinic
Home visits for special concerns
Support beyond your doctor or midwife, including nurses, nutritionists, social workers and community health workers
Referrals to OB care, WIC, health insurance and other community resources

MSS is part of the First Steps Program and is available to pregnant women through Medicaid.

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Learning about health and pregnancy

Finding a doctor for you and your baby
Learning how pregnancy affects you
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 support
Birth control and family planning services

Nutrition education

Learning about healthy foods for you and your baby
Tracking your weight gain
Managing health concerns; high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or high weight gain
Learning breastfeeding education and support
Learning about infant feeding

Emotional support

Adjusting to a new baby
Strengthening relationships with family and friends
Talking about feeling stressed, sad, or depressed

Drug and alcohol use

Learning about effects of drugs and alcohol on you and your baby
Talking about drugs and alcohol concerns

Referrals

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
Baby supplies and maternity clothes
Birth control
Counseling for mental health or substance 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.

For community partners

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 on home visits.

MSS and ICM
Nurse Family Partnership: visits to first time pregnant women (< = 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.

For policy makers

Research has shown that women who get into prenatal care early, and who receive adequate prenatal care, have healthier pregnancies and healthier babies. Without Maternity Support Services, many low income pregnant women would not access prenatal care until later in their pregnancy—some would not access prenatal care at all.

Maternity Support Services 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.