The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) MOMS Helpline has launched a new texting service to better link Hoosier mothers to services available in their communities and improve the health of women and their babies.
This new channel of communication will enable the MOMS Helpline to expand its reach and ensure that women have easy access to the services and information that can promote a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. For example, through a text reply, referrals can be sent with a site link that will integrate with the user’s smart phone navigation and web browser, providing instant access to services.
“We are always looking for more ways that technology can be used to improve Hoosiers’ health,” said State Health Commissioner Kris Box, M.D., FACOG. “Adding an innovative text feature to the MOMS Helpline helps us connect even more Indiana moms and babies to the community services they need and is another tool in our fight to reduce Indiana’s infant mortality rate.”
The MOMS Helpline’s mission is to reduce the infant mortality rate in Indiana by connecting families with services such as transportation, baby supplies, car seats and financial assistance. MOMS Helpline specialists are certified insurance navigators who can enroll callers in health insurance programs, including Medicaid. The addition of the texting service will give Hoosiers the ability to schedule an appointment with one of the certified navigators on staff. All services provided through the MOMS Helpline are offered in both English and Spanish.
The helpline recently celebrated its third anniversary and has assisted with more than 7,000 calls.
In addition to adding the new text feature, the helpline recently expanded its partnership with Indiana 2-1-1, allowing call specialists to access information about more than 20,000 resources throughout the state.
Access the MOMS Helpline by text message at 844-666-7898 (844-MOMS-TXT) for English and 844-737-6262 (844-SER-MAMA) for Spanish. The service is also available by phone by calling 844-624-6667 (844-MCH-MOMS) and through Liv, the ISDH pregnancy mobile app, which is available for both Apple and Android users or at http://www.MOMSHelpline.isdh.
