Western NC Community Based Doulas (Lavish to Essential Support)

Doulas: The US now claims the highest maternal mortality rates (MMR) in the industrialized world, with African American women having MMRs 3-4x higher than their White peers regardless of education, income, or other socioeconomic indicators.
As clinical practitioners providing safety-net obstetrical and well-woman healthcare to the women of Western North Carolina, we acknowledge structural and institutional racism as the root cause for inequities in maternal and infant mortality rates. Our Wicked Problem Impact Project seeks to eliminate these infant and maternal mortality inequities in our region, across the state, and beyond by solidifying a framework for racial health equity, supporting Sistas Caring 4 Sistas, an already established community-based doula program, and through replicating these services in other interested and engaged communities eager to address health disparities and improve maternal and infant outcomes.
Website:
clinicalschola...
Twitter:
/ cspfellows
Resources:
sistascaring4s...
mahec.net/pati...

[@michelleabel-shoup6296]

Thank you for the work you are doing in your project in helping to not just reduce, but to eliminate the grossly disproportionate rate of MMR's among African American women in the US. The framework to include Doulas as part of the healthcare team underscores the importance of providing the much needed support and services, from lavish to essential. Is there an opportunity within your services to include the birth partner and/or other family/support persons as further support for the mother? The Doula Mentee program is a great way to train and reach more mothers in the community, and beyond, and I wonder if you are considering including some of your former patients in this program...much like the stories of many of the SC4S Trained Doulas.