Maternal Produce Prescription Program - Project Abstract Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative, Inc. (SEMRHI) Healthy Harvest Network: Maternal Produce Prescription Program Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative, Inc. (SEMRHI) proposes the Healthy Harvest Network Maternal Produce Prescription Program, an innovative community-based initiative designed to improve nutrition, reduce food insecurity, and promote healthy pregnancy outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women residing in rural southeast Mississippi. Rather than creating a stand-alone nutrition program, SEMRHI will leverage its existing clinical infrastructure, telehealth capacity, patient navigation services, nutrition education resources, and strong community partnerships to establish a coordinated maternal nutrition network that supports women from pregnancy through the postpartum period. SEMRHI is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving medically underserved populations through a comprehensive network of primary care, women's health, pediatric, behavioral health, school-based health, dental, pharmacy, and telehealth services. The proposed program will integrate Produce Prescription services into routine prenatal and postpartum care, enabling healthcare providers to prescribe fresh fruits and vegetables as part of evidence-based maternal healthcare. Eligible participants will receive individualized nutrition assessments, Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by Registered Dietitians, culturally appropriate nutrition education, healthy cooking demonstrations, telehealth nutrition counseling, and produce prescriptions redeemable through local agricultural partners. The program will also incorporate breastfeeding support, chronic disease prevention, healthy weight management, and postpartum wellness services to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. SEMRHI will collaborate with community partners, including Hope Clinic, local U-Pik farms, the Hattiesburg Farmers Market, and other regional agricultural producers to increase access to fresh, locally grown produce while strengthening the local food system. Hope Clinic will identify and refer eligible pregnant women through its pregnancy support and parenting education programs, while participating agricultural partners will provide convenient access to nutritious foods and reinforce healthy eating behaviors throughout pregnancy and early parenthood. The Healthy Harvest Network will utilize PRAPARE social determinants of health screening, patient navigation, and coordinated care management to identify women experiencing food insecurity and other barriers to healthy pregnancies. Services will be delivered through in-person visits, community outreach events, and telehealth to improve access for women living in rural and underserved communities. Over the four-year project period, SEMRHI expects to improve access to healthy foods, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, reduce nutrition insecurity, strengthen engagement in prenatal and postpartum care, and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. By integrating Produce Prescription services into existing clinical workflows and community partnerships, SEMRHI will create a sustainable model that extends beyond the grant period and advances its organizational vision of Growing Healthy Communities…Across All Generations.
