Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH) in partnership with the Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio and ProMedica - a regional health system headquartered in Toledo - recently concluded a research project, evaluating the NW Ohio Pathways HUB Maternal Pathways Program. While there is robust evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the Pathways Community HUB Model for improving birth outcomes, both in Ohio and across the country, researchers looked at how the program specifically could improve performance. One of the biggest outcome findings was how the program positively affects mothers and their babies. In fact, stress reduction alone was a clear and consistent finding from the data. Mothers indicated that their relationship with their CHW and the emotional support and assistance they received to access needed resources were central to that stress reduction, which significantly increased their feelings of security, safety and hope.
The research reinforced that implementing the PCHI Model results in coordinated care and support that translates to positive outcomes for low-income women and their babies.
The full research report can be found by clicking here or on the PDF below.