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Caring for Pregnant Teens

Being a teenager can be tough, but being a pregnant teen is even tougher. For many pregnant teens, it can be difficult to access the resources needed to ensure healthy birth outcomes, such as healthcare education, baby care supplies and a dependable support network. These young women need additional care during and after pregnancy more than ever at this age. We get it, and we want to help.

That is why Sunshine Health offers a specialized Healthy Teen Pregnancy Program under the Child Welfare Specialty Plan in partnership with Community Based Care organizations (CBCs).

The Healthy Teen Pregnancy Program provides several expanded benefits, including:

  • Access to a doula
  • Breast pump rental
  • Expanded OTC benefits to cover baby care items

 

Our Integrated Approach

Sunshine Health’s Child Welfare Specialty Plan is designed to provide the right care at the right time for pregnant teens. The plan offers specialized care management, member education and collaboration with statewide partner organizations to support pregnant teens. Our programs teach young women how to best care for themselves while pregnant, and care for their babies after birth.

 

Care Management

Our specialized care managers coordinate prenatal and postpartum care for pregnant teens, beginning with the Start Smart for Your Baby® program. Start Smart for Your Baby offers these benefits at no cost to you:

  • Information about pregnancy and newborn care
  • Community help with housing, food, clothing and cribs
  • Breastfeeding support and resources
  • Experienced and licensed medical staff to work with you and your doctor if any  issues occur during your pregnancy
  • Text and email health tips for you and your newborn

 

Collaborative Care

Working with CBCs, Sunshine Health is able to identify pregnant youth earlier and more effectively to outreach for appropriate services and care. Sunshine Health also partners with statewide organizations like maternity group homes and healthy start coalitions like Nurse-Family Partnership and FSU’s Young Parents Project to reach our members in their communities.

 

Member Education and Support

  • Once Sunshine Health receives notification that a member enrolled in the plan is pregnant, we immediately connect with the community-based care lead agency to assess the child’s health and provide any needed services.
  • Pregnant teens often benefit from educational programs to help them care for their baby. Sunshine Health provides educational programs, including Wellframe, a mobile app that offers push notification reminders for important milestones. Members also have access to Krames Staywell Health Library which accesses more than 4,000 health topics in a searchable database.
  • Sunshine Health also offers a Community Resource Database that connects members to services and community resources like finance, transportation, housing. We also provide telemedicine options to offer members live chat access with pediatric and behavioral health providers.
  • Our plan supports pregnant teens on their road to motherhood with needed and preventive medical and behavioral health services during pregnancy and after birth to focus on the whole individual.

 

Standard Child Welfare Member Benefits

  • $25 Over-The-Counter Benefit: $25 provided per household per month to buy products like cough, cold and allergy medications, first aid supplies and vitamins.
  • Healthy Rewards Program: Offering the opportunity to earn reward dollars for completing certain preventive health activities, such as a well-child visit and an annual dental checkup.
  • Care Grants: Up to $150 per child per year for services and supplies for social or physical activities, such as gym membership, swim lessons, sports equipment, art supplies and application fees for post high school education.
  • Transition Assistance: Up to $500 in one-time assistance for young adults transitioning out of foster care at age 18 or extended foster care at age 21.
  • Life Skills Development: Education for children ages 12 and up with developmental disabilities to help them keep, learn or improve skills and functioning for daily living.
  • Transportation: Unlimited to medical appointments; 3 trips per month for nonmedical needs.