Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health

The Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division includes programs and services for expectant families, families with infants and children, fathers/male parents and young people. Our programs and services promote success for whole families over their entire lives.

Adolescent Health Initiatives

Adolescent health initiatives includes programs and services for young people ages 10 to 24 years of age.

Safe and Supportive Environments

Partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools to provide social emotional learning support for young people. Initiatives provide training and professional development for educators, support for affirming, youth-friendly sexual health services and age-appropriate sexuality education in accordance with the Lifetime Wellness Standards.

Youth Initiatives

Collection of public health youth engagement programs that provides pipeline education, community-based service-learning, and grassroots advocacy through the utilization of public and private high school youth leaders to affect policies concerning adolescent health in Nashville.

Youth Advisory Board

Bi-weekly 9th -12th grade volunteer board; student leaders design, plan, and evaluate public health research and service projects for area youth.

The Metro Public Health Department is accepting applications for new members of the Youth Advisory Board. To submit your application, complete the Youth Leadership Application and email to [email protected].

Youth Public Health Institute

Public health service learning opportunity for Metro Nashville Public Schools Health Science Academy students at health academies at select schools.

Youth Violence Prevention

Collaborative effort to identify strategies to prevent youth violence in all forms in Davidson County neighborhoods. Efforts include a collaboration with the Mayor’s Youth Violence Prevention Committee, as well as, leveraging community-based efforts such as mentoring, recreation and skill-building activities for youth and families.

Car Seat Program

The Davidson County Car Seat Program is an income-based program for families in need of a car seat for their infant and/or child. Proof of Davidson County residency and income are required as well as attending one car seat education class. Car seat education classes are scheduled each month by appointment only.

For more information, and to register for a class, contact the Car Seat Safety Program Coordinator at 615-340-7780. Eligible individuals will receive a car seat or booster seat for their child installed in a vehicle by a certified car seat technician.

Central Referral System

The Central Referral System coordinates referrals for home visiting intervention services for pregnant women, infants, and children up to 18 months of age. The family is linked to the most appropriate provider agency to ensure coordination and avoid duplication of services.

To make a referral, you may download the Central Referral Intake Form.

Infant Vitality Initiatives

Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR)

The Fetal Infant Mortality Review program is an infant mortality initiative that reviews fetal and infant deaths, and works at the community level to formulate programs, and influence policy that will lead to improving Davidson County birth outcomes.

Infant Safe Sleep Initiatives

Music City Babies Sleep Safe campaign is the county-wide awareness, education and resources campaign to support all infant caregivers in providing safe sleep environments for Music City’s smallest residents. The campaign staff offers training, educational materials, caregiver resources and more.

Healthy Beginnings

The Healthy Beginnings program is an evidence-based home visiting program designed to strengthen first time families by providing education, support, parenting skills, and resource assistance in order to prevent child abuse and neglect. Visits by trained staff from the Health Department begin during pregnancy or after delivery of a first baby less than 2 weeks old. Staff from the Health Department support first time parents by providing support and important information about child safety, child health, disease prevention, child development, and parenting skills. Referrals are received from the Central Referral System and community agencies.

Learn more at Kid Central.

Nashville Strong Babies

Tiered case management services for pregnant, post-partum and parenting families living in the Nashville Strong Families Zone in Davidson County. The zone is comprised of neighborhoods in the following 7 zip code areas: 37207, 37208, 37210, 37216, 37115, 37218, and 37221. Father/male parents also receive support and assistance.

There are no income requirements and any family who is expecting a child, recently delivered or parenting a child up to 18 month s of age is eligible for support services. Families receive personal attention, pregnancy and parenting resources - diapers, car seats, pack-n-plays, reading books, enrollment assistance in other programs, transportation support and more.

To make a referral, you may download the Central Referral Intake Form.

Maternal Child Health Initiatives

Maternal Child Health programs and initiatives that focus on the health of children, infants and improving birth outcomes.

Equity in Birth Outcomes

Equity in Birth Outcomes utilizes a one neighborhood at a time approach to provide psycho-social support to women during pregnancy and the first year of the infant’s life. In 2016, Equity in Birth Outcomes launched in the Napier-Sudekum community with 31 pregnant families. Support is provided by trained community volunteers.

Prematurity Reduction Initiative

Prematurity Reduction Initiative is the screening and referral process for pregnant women who may have a history of previous preterm birth. Women with elevated risk for preterm birth utilizing health department services (Family Planning, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Immunizations, etc.) are screened, counseled on their elevated risk and referred to a home-visiting provider for case management services and follow-up.

Preconception Health

The department’s strategic focus on maximizing the health and well-being of women of reproductive age prior to pregnancy. Initiated in 2018, the initiative started with a focus on employee wellness within the Metro Public Health Department. Initiative products include an expectant parent packet for Health Department employees to understand how to maximize their health and employer-based benefits when preparing to welcome a child into their family. Efforts also include community-based education, resources and support for women and families to be as healthy as possible before deciding to become parents.