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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Provider Notice issued 06/13/12

Text4baby

To:​ Participating Physicians, Advance Practice Nurses, Hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Encounter Rate Clinics, Rural Health Clinics, Certified Health Departments and School Based/Linked Centers, All Kids Application Agents​
​Date: ​June 13, 2012
​Re: Text4baby​

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), in partnership with the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition (IMCHC), are promoting the use of text4baby, a free mobile texting service designed to promote maternal and child health.

IMCHC serves as the Illinois state affiliate of the text4baby outreach campaign. Text4baby is an educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition and provides pregnant women and new moms with information to help them care for their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411(or BEBE for Spanish) will receive free text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health: immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, birth defects prevention, oral health and safe sleep. Text4baby messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services.

Illinois is sixth in the nation in text4baby users, with over 12,000 women registered. Please join our efforts in promoting the text4baby program to all pregnant women and new mothers in Illinois by encouraging women to sign up. Following are ideas for promoting text4baby:

  • Send an email to your staff announcing your support of text4baby and providing them with resources.

  • Print copies of the flyers, available on the text4baby Web site and place them around your facility.

  • Display posters in waiting areas and exam rooms.

  • Add a text4baby web banner or button to your Web site’s homepage

  • Add a web page within your site about text4baby and how your agency is helping promote the service

  • Add a link to text4baby on your agency’s Facebook page

  • Include information about text4baby in reminders to patients and other mailings.

  • Host a “baby shower” in your office/clinic for pregnant patients and their families and distribute promotional items and information about text4baby.

  • Use the following public script when talking to women:

    • If you’re pregnant or a new mom, there is a new free service called text4baby that can help keep you and your baby healthy. Text4baby will send 3 text messages each week to your cell phone with expert health tips to help you through your pregnancy and your baby's first year. It’s free to sign up and the messages are free. To sign up, text BABY to 511411. To sign up for text4baby in Spanish, text BEBE to 511411. You can also sign up and find out more at the text4baby Web site. Text4baby is an educational service of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition.

IMCHC has posters, tear-offs and other materials for distribution. To order free text4baby materials please visit the IMCHC Web site or call IMCHC at 312-491-8161.