Merrick House is Committed to Helping Cleveland’s Pregnant Mothers Have Healthy Babies

Merrick House is Committed to Helping Cleveland’s Pregnant Mothers Have Healthy Babies

Apr 18, 2018

MomsFirst

Cleveland and Cuyahoga County’s infant mortality rate has been among the highest in the nation for decades with black babies today being 2.5 times more likely to die before their first birthday than white babies. For Merrick House, this is an unacceptable crisis and one that the Tremont neighborhood center is trying to help fix through its “MomsFirst™” Program that’s free to pregnant women who reside on the west side of Cleveland.

Through the MomsFirst program offered at Merrick House, expectant mothers are provided with a Community Health Worker who is specially trained to provide home visits and support services. While all pregnancies are different, each pregnant mother receives help finding a doctor for her and her baby, help getting to the doctor for checkups, connections to any medical or social services they need, and answers to everything from prenatal care, baby care, birth control, and family planning. “It is our hope that by removing some of the hurdles these moms are facing that they will not only have a healthy pregnancy, but deliver and raise a healthy baby that has the very best chance of thriving,” said Michelle Curry, Executive Director of Merrick House. “We see moms here that have limited resources and support, and who genuinely want to do everything within their power to keep their babies healthy. The program is unique in that it also provides opportunities for fathers to participate and gain valuable parenting advice as well,” Curry added.

Each month, Merrick hosts a MomsFirst Consortium for pregnant women that is open to the public. This is a free educational event featuring speakers who present on topics such as safe infant sleep, breastfeeding, family planning, and more. MomsFirst is an inclusive program that provides support to pregnant mothers in Cleveland who are teenagers, as well as those in jail, in a rehab program, or living in a shelter.

To request information about the MomsFirst program at Merrick House, which serves the west side of Cleveland, call Tiffany Ashley, MomsFirst Case Manager, at 216.771.5077 ext. 110.

The MomsFirst program offered at Merrick House is funded in part by the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health, Community West Foundation, The Reuter Foundation, the Thatcher Family Fund, the CareSource Foundation, the Dominion Foundation, and private Donations.

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OUR THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER IN CLEVELAND SERVES PEOPLE IN THE HISTORIC TREMONT AREA AND BEYOND

The Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland is rich in history, culture, and tradition. Merrick House is an integral part of this diverse and resilient community, welcoming people to our neighborhood center and empowering them to get ahead and reach success through our on-site and outreach programs.

Originally built as a settlement house in the early 1900s, Merrick House honors its legacy to create an interconnected community of support. From infant child care, preschool, and youth mentoring to adult education and recreation, we are continually reshaping our programs and services to meet the needs of residents in the Tremont, Clark-Fulton, Stockyards, and Brooklyn Centre neighborhoods. With the recent addition of our “MomsFirst” program, we are able to provide health education and support to pregnant women with the ultimate goal of helping them have a healthy baby in a county that ranks among the nation’s highest for infant mortality rates.

Our inclusive and adaptable approach over the years has helped to stabilize families, educate children, create leaders, and provide safe and healthy activities. We are proud to be a MyCom partner, a network of people in Greater Cleveland who believe youth development is the responsibility of all sectors of society. By engaging our youth, connecting them with caring and committed adults, and providing a variety of “out of school time” activities, we are helping them reach their full potential and become good citizens.

Wherever possible, Merrick House advocates for fairness and equality and works with residents to give them a stronger voice on various issues they are facing. We are actively creating change and making a positive impact in our neighborhoods.

Merrick House is committed to Lifting Lives and Strengthening Communities.

Have a question about Merrick House? We’d love to hear from you. Give us a call at 216.771.5077

Our Vision

Merrick House is a vibrant, inviting, and resilient neighborhood center that transforms lives and cultivates community.

Our Mission

Merrick House is a thriving neighborhood center that encourages and educates to empower people in Tremont and its surrounding areas.

Our Values

Tradition
We honor our nearly century-old legacy in the settlement movement, carrying forth the goal of creating interconnected communities.

Equity
We advance opportunity for those without access to resources, helping empower them to get ahead and achieve success.

Inclusiveness
We pride ourselves on welcoming people to our community destination.

Partnership
We believe building a better community evolves from our collaboration with other organizations that share our mission.

Learning
We know that acquiring knowledge and skills throughout life is critical to realizing personal attainment and offer programs that reflect this tenet.