The Maternal and Infant Healthcare Outreach Worker (MIHOW) Program is part of a
growing network of women, trained and experienced as home visitors, who encourage
local women to improve access to health care, educational and social services
for pregnant women and for families with young children.
Home visiting is one of the many steps which can be taken to promote and protect
the health of our children. The MIHOW Program is proud to be involved with making
home visits available to West Virginian families. Home visitors provide education
about a wide range of prenatal and early childhood topics. The MIHOW home visitors
become advocates, as well as educators, for those enrolled in the MIHOW Program.
MIHOW services, friendships and the emotional support that develops between MIHOW
workers and program participants empower families to manage their own affairs.
Continuing education for the home visitor has always been an important part of
the program. Workers from the network of MIHOW sites across Appalachia meet for
training, sharing and program evaluation several times a year. Linda Stein directs
a half-day training session every month at NRFHC that meets the on-the-job needs
of workers and provides a forum for program planning and discussion. For some
time now the home visitors have taken college courses relating to their work.
