County health department to continue partnership with Beacon Health Systems’ coupon‑based Baby store

The St. Joseph County Department of Health asked for and received board approval on April 29 to enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Beacon Health Systems to continue the county’s partnership with the Baby store, a coupon‑based program that lets participating families redeem coupons for baby supplies.

Mike Bridal, director of operations for the county health department, told commissioners the Baby store awards coupons for attending prenatal visits, physician visits and parenting classes; partner organizations such as the county health department distribute the coupons to eligible participants. Bridal said the county has partnered with the Baby store for several years and that the MOU simply formalizes the ongoing relationship so the health department can continue issuing coupons to clients in programs such as Ember.

Commissioners asked about publicity and whether the county will be financially responsible for the program. Bridal said Beacon does some advertising for the program and county staff include information about the coupon program when they engage participants in Ember and other community events. The board and county staff stated on the record that the county has no financial commitment to the program at this time. Commissioners approved the MOU unanimously.

Bridal and a commissioner also noted recent state budget action that reduced Health First Indiana funding; Bridal said the county was still “digesting what that all means” and would have more to say later about implications for county health programming.