Background:
The Healthy Start, Inc. Male Initiative Program (MIP) was developed to improve the lives of low-income, primarily African American fathers/ male caregivers, women, infants, children and their families. In 2006, HSI was awarded the Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Multiple Activity Grant to enhance current system capacity and provide Healthy Marriage and Domestic Violence activities.


Objectives:
As a best practice model, this presentation with explore concepts of program design, innovative practices for men, and suggest replication as a means to improved outcomes for the entire family. As well, the audience can expect to gain insight into the importance of community-based input and its impacts on program design, implementation and sustainability.


Methods:
To accomplish program goals and outcomes, Healthy Start incorporates the core services of Outreach, Care Coordination, Health Education, Depression Screening & Referral and the community-based efforts of the Consortia.

Results:
At end of presentation, participants will:
1. Increase knowledge of fatherhood involvement on maternal/child health.
2. Increase awareness of effective male initiative program principles and strategies.
3. Improve their ability to promote a fatherhood resource network among traditionally maternal and child health sites and partners nationally.


Conclusion and implications for practice:
Male-based programs are essential to the overall health and wellness of families including preconceptional and interconceptional outcomes for mothers and this poster will present a compelling argument to include fathers into preconceptional services targeted at women.