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MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH NETWORK OF LAKE COUNTY (MCHN)The mission of the Maternal Child Health Network of Lake County (MCHN) is to reduce the disproportionately high rate of infant mortality in Lake County, and to provide improved care to women who are experiencing high-risk pregnancies, resulting in low and very low birth weight births, or fetal or infant death. MCHN manages a coordinated, collaborative care delivery network of providers, whose first goal is to get women into early prenatal care (in the first trimester). In addition, they provide nutrition and maternal education, intensive supportive services, and referral services to ensure that women with high-risk pregnancies have the best chance at a positive pregnancy outcome.Since the inception of the Maternal Child Health Network, over 1,500 women have been enrolled into prenatal care coordination services through the work of network members: Great Beginnings, NATALE, the Gary Health Department MCH Clinic, and Promotores de Salud Maternal e Infantil. In addition, MCHN partners work with the network of Obstetrical physicians in the area to ensure that each woman has a medical provider during her pregnancy. They also work with maternal and child-serving agencies to provide needed social services to women when they are most vulnerable. 
The factors contributing to high infant mortality, low and very low birth weight babies, and late entry into prenatal care still exist. However, through concentrated focus on nutritional education, prenatal smoking cessation, environmental education, follow-up services to pregnant teens and women, as well as the use of certified Community Health Workers, MCHN partners are making a positive impact on pregnancy outcomes.
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