Detroit, Michigan agency empowers new moms to succeed

Social worker Lesley Gant knows that becoming a mother is a wonderful experience. She also knows it can be overwhelming without a strong support system. That’s why Gant founded Next Generation MIHP in 2021 to help moms and newborns get off to the right start.

The Detroit-based agency is part of the state’s Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP), which serves Medicaid-eligible pregnant women in several Michigan counties. Next Generation MIHP helps families with mental health support, housing, breastfeeding training, clothing and diapers, education, and life planning. Mothers can stay in the program for up to 18 months after a baby is born.

“We want to empower moms to be the best possible version of themselves and that requires support,” says Gant, whose family has a history of nonprofit work to help the needy. “As a social worker, I love to see people grow and reach their goals.”

Next Generation MIHP is a winner of a 2023 Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award, which recognizes entrepreneurs striving to improve their community.

Gant recently discussed how she was inspired to start the agency, why listening to her clients is so important, and where she and other entrepreneurs can turn for inspiration.

Working with children was not Gant’s initial career plan. After receiving a Masters in social work, she planned to work with the elderly. “I cared for my own grandparents and had an affinity for elder care,” she says.

That changed when Gant spent hours visiting her daughter in the hospital. During this time, Gant had the chance to talk with many new mothers and social workers assisting them. It quickly became clear how common it is for new mothers to lack the resources and education needed to start out strong as parents. This need is acute in the three counties — Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne — Next Generation MIHP serves.

“We identified a need to help new moms with prenatal health and postnatal support including everything from mental health counseling, infant and childcare education, baby supplies, and other essential care,” says Gant. “We support them and connect with other organizations to address their needs.”

The chance to help new parents build essential skills makes Gant glad that she shifted her social work focus to prenatal and postnatal parent care. “We’re educating new mothers on very important topics, such as safe sleep positions to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and breastfeeding,” Gant says. “The rewards are so great; we can potentially save lives.”

The Next Generation MIHP team includes Gant’s mother, who is a doula. Once a pregnant woman or new mother is enrolled in the program, they are assigned a social worker and a registered nurse who check in on them via 30-minute monthly visits. During these appointments, the team assesses each woman’s needs to develop a personalized care plan.

“Some moms-to-be may need guidance on nutrition and prenatal care, while others may need assistance with housing or transportation, or help managing stress or depression,” says Gant. “We provide a circle of people to lift new moms and moms-to-be up, so they don’t feel alone.”

Bottom line: As your business evolves, remain open minded about the direction your company takes. While it’s important to have a plan and specific business goals, it’s also smart to retain a willingness to recognize good opportunities even if they shift your plans. Also be open to recognizing that the type of work that’s most rewarding to you is different than what you envisioned initially.

Building trust with prospects and clients has been essential to Next Generation MIHP’s success so far. Gant says that careful listening has made it possible for her team to identify mothers who need help and to provide them with the best possible care.

“I go out of my way to listen to people and make one-on-one connections,” says Gant. “It’s important to get to know people so they will learn to trust you and open up about how you can serve them.”

Trust is particularly important for Next Generation MIHP since client service happens via home visits. Gant and her team need to establish a level of comfort with clients and communicate that these visits are essential for them to receive the care they need. Careful listening and observing helps here too.

“We’ve tried online appointments in the past, but in-person visits are important to provide care and assess what is happening to be sure moms have the support and supplies they need,” she says. “Early on, we make sure they understand that care will necessitate a lot of different people coming and going from their home.”

Next Generation MIHP also strives to set moms up for success, beyond their role as parents. Listening to their personal goals and helping them find the employment and education to get there, makes this possible.

“We want moms to realize their potential by listening to what they want and letting them know that someone cares,” says Gant. “Helping them create an action plan to move them forward in creating a better life can be a huge catalyst for change.”

Gant also helps people in her community through a Detroit-based nonprofit founded by her parents in 2009 to help care for the unhoused.

Gant and her husband Robert took over the charity, Because of His Love Outreach (BOHL), in 2020 and considers it part of her family’s legacy to give back to the community. BOHL recently held a community baby shower for 75 local families to celebrate them and provide essential baby care items and education to help them start strong.

Bottom line: Take the time to listen to prospects to find people who are a good fit for what you offer. Once you have a customer, careful listening will keep you connected to their priorities so that you can provide what they need. This is good for your customers and for the bottom line. Careful listening will also help you to stay ahead of shifts in your market or industry before they happen.

Like many entrepreneurs, Gant acknowledges that when she started Next Generation MIHP, she didn’t have a lot of business experience. For instance, it was a challenge to figure out how to properly bill through Medicaid, the primary source of the agency’s revenue.

Networking with peers operating similar types of businesses has helped her develop marketing and business skills she needs. “I’ve built a lot of relationships that have influenced me significantly and taught me many things about business that I just never learned in school,” Gant says.

Gant says networking has also helped her find partners to provide the services her agency does not provide, such as obtaining birth certificates and other paperwork or enrolling kids in school. When she hasn’t been able to find a local resource to help, she has turned to search. “Google can be your best friend when it comes to finding free and low-cost resources,” she adds.

As for her next steps for the agency, Gant aspires to expand the services Next Generation MIHP offers. She wants to provide peer support groups for dads as well as moms and will use the Citizens Small Business Community Champions grant to purchase a new vehicle to visit more families and deliver supplies.

“We’re constantly growing and learning,” she says. “It’s gratifying when I talk with a client I’ve been working with since they were three months pregnant and they show me a picture of their toddler who is thriving. It keeps me going and shows me my hard work has paid off.”

Bottom line: Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and admit what you don’t know when starting out. Use your networks to fill in knowledge gaps. Talk to peers to find advice and resources for companies like yours. If you cannot find what you need from local connections, search online for business resources and advice. Many industry and business groups provide education and mentoring to help you round out your skills.

Do you need guidance on your small business journey? Schedule an appointment with Citizens to receive personalized assistance for your business.