If we are serious about ensuring that Black women thrive before, during, and after childbirth, we must do more to eliminate bias and discrimination in health care and address both clinical and non-clinical needs of African-American patients. The Listening to Mothers in California survey, a comprehensive report on the pre and postnatal experiences of childbearing women, exposes the ways that the health care system is falling short for all women, but especially for pregnant and parenting Black women.
Healthy Start , an international health organization right here in our city, is committed to doing more to address the clinical and non-clinical needs of San Diego Black Families. The resources are free, and all African American families in San Diego are eligible.
Healthy Start provides free prenatal & childbirth education, postpartum and breastfeeding support with a focus on Black parents in San Diego County. Enrolled participants may access midwifery and doula services, and other resources. Health educators (“perinatal navigators”) provide home-based visits for families from the time they are pregnant until their child is 18 months old. To achieve maximum sustainability and culturally competent services, Healthy Start also engages in perinatal workforce development, training women from underserved populations to become childbirth educators, doulas, and lactation educators.
Midwives and Maternity Providers in San Diego may fill out the attached referral for their black clients to receive additional free support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
Healthy Start Referral Form for Midwives and Maternity Care Providershttps://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=KuRvSNCH4kCvcamzPqP82aCB0VTXIU9Dju-HVN7p5KNUMUFPMlMwVllNRkM5OFVGUUhQQlJZWFE1Ti4u
