BBO Navigation (BBO-N) is a program in the City of Chicago that helps pregnant and parenting clients understand the importance of a medical home and connect them to a myriad of medical, social, and other benefits and supports available in their community. Through in-person visits, the Navigator collaborates with families to identify and mitigate barriers to accessing desired supports and services. Illinois Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) offer a variety of value-added services such as care coordination, case management, transportation assistance, maternal/infant supplies. By providing direct, 1:1 assistance to connect and engage with these and other desired services, the Navigator helps the client meet their family's health and wellness goals and promotes the reduction of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.
The BBO-N program provides these services to dyads (pregnant and postpartum individuals and their infants) throughout pregnancy and the first six months after birth to Illinois residents who meet the eligibility criteria for the program as outlined in the BBO-N Policy & Procedure Manual. Refer to the BBO-N Policy & Procedure Manual Vulnerability Index for the list of factors used to determine eligibility for the program. Families not meeting the eligibility criteria may be authorized with pre-approval by the Department. Nurses are not required to deliver these services.
The BBO-N program complements the existing Family Connects universal nurse home visiting program which is administered in the City of Chicago under a separate IDHS grant program. Navigators are expected to support families through continued engagement before and after a Family Connects visit. Navigators are expected to provide families with information on Family Connects during the prenatal period and to collaborate with the Family Connects program to ensure appropriate handoff.
This program is administered under the legislative authority of the Illinois Family Case Management Act (410 ILCS 212).
Better Birth Outcomes - Navigation Program Manual (pdf)
