HealthConnect One
is leading the nation in community birth worker
We support healthy pregnancies, births, and breastfeeding in Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
Our Approach
Operating with the awareness that birth equity is fundamental to racial equity, our approach to community health worker training and program development is centered on advancing reproductive justice and undoing years of disinvestment while connecting communities to their own strengths and skills.
Our Initiatives
Training
We develop programs rooted in the community & provide training to maternal child health organizations for perinatal community health workers, community-based doulas, and breastfeeding & lactation peer counselors.
Advocacy
We partner with Black, Brown, and Indigenous community health workers as they advocate for themselves and the people they serve by taking positions on issues that advance maternal and child health, advance issues that affect community health workers, and educate legislators and regulators on issues related to birth equity, maternal mortality, and perinatal health.
Research
We collaborate with leading research institutions to facilitate community-based research that advances maternal-child health outcomes and shrinks birth equity gaps, building a knowledge base that advances the health of birthing families and of the community itself.
In the Press
Blog Posts, Events, and Publications
Disaster Preparedness in Perinatal Care: Insights from Birth Workers
September was National Preparedness Month, and this year’s theme, “Take Control in 1, 2, 3,” emphasized the importance of readiness for all, especially adults and families from communities disproportionately affected by various hazards. But what does this theme mean for birth workers, and how can they play a vital role in disaster preparedness during the perinatal period? In this blog, we explore this critical topic with insights from two remarkable…
National Breastfeeding Month: Strengthening Communities with First Food Equity (FFE)
August is National Breastfeeding Month! At HealthConnect One, we believe in supporting equitable breastfeeding and lactation assistance nationwide, promoting an inclusive environment for all families to thrive. Date: August 30th | Time: 2:00 PM EST | ZOOM Webinar HealthConnect One along with its FFE partners including the Hmong Breastfeeding Coalition, Alimentación Segura Infantil (ASI), Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition, and the African American Breastfeeding Network, commemorated National Breastfeeding Month with a…
Changing the Narrative: The Doula Medicaid Reimbursement Storybook
Funding to pay community-based birth workers is critical and largely absent; legislative action and Medicaid funding can change this. Thanks to a grant from the W. Clement & Jessie V. Stone Foundation, HealthConnect One has launched the Doula Medicaid Reimbursement Storybook – a project that involves developing a storybook focused on community-based doulas highlighting the profession’s sustainability, engaging doulas in advocacy training, and concluding with an advocacy day visit to Capitol Hill. Over…
Our Impact
South Bay Center for Counseling
South Bay Center for Counseling
540 N Marine Ave, Wilmington, CA 90744, USA
SBCC is a social change agency empowering Los Angeles residents to develop lasting skills for the betterment of themselves and in turn their community. They have worked with HealthConnect One on community-based doula programs.
Open Arms Perinatal Services
Open Arms Perinatal Services
2524 16th Ave S, Suite 207, Seattle, WA 98144
Open Arms Perinatal Services provides community-based support during pregnancy, birth, and early parenting to nurture strong foundations that last a lifetime. Working in the Puget Sound region since 1997, Open Arms is a nonprofit focused on strong community-based support for women through pregnancy, birth, and early childhood. Their community-based doula program is accredited by HealthConnect One.
Tewa Women United
Tewa Women United
912 Fairview Ln, Española, NM 87532, USA
Located in the ancestral Tewa homelands of Northern New Mexico, Tewa Women United is a multicultural and multiracial organization founded and led by Native women. The name "Tewa Women United" comes from the Tewa words wi don gi mu which can be translated as "we are one" in mind, heart, and in the spirit of love for all. They have worked with HealthConnect One on community-based doula programs.
The Natural Way Birthing Project
The Natural Way Birthing Project
2450 Evans Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA
The Natural Way Birthing Project~Fort Worth began as one of more than 100 Birthing Projects that operated across the country and world under the umbrella of the parent organization, Birthing Project USA. Their mission to help lower the infant mortality risk factors and nurture participating families through education, advocacy and support during pregnancy and beyond. They have worked with HealthConnect One on community-based doula programs.
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe
43408 Oodena Dr, Onamia, MN 56359, USA
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe is a federally recognized Indian tribe whose members have lived for generations on the 1855 Mille Lacs Reservation and throughout east central Minnesota from Mille Lacs Lake east to the St. Croix River and north to Rice Lake and Sandy Lake. Their health care center has worked with HealthConnect One on community-based doula programs.
Lac Courte Oreilles
Lac Courte Oreilles
13394 W Trepania Rd, Hayward, WI 54843, USA
The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe is one of six bands of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians who entered into treaties with the United States in 1837, 1842, and 1854. They operate a community health center that has worked with HealthConnect One on community-based doula programming.
Rock-Walworth Comprehensive Family Services Early Head Start
Rock-Walworth Comprehensive Family Services Early Head Start
1221 Henry Ave, Beloit, WI 53511, USA
Rock-Walworth Comprehensive Family Services, Inc. Head Start and Early Head Start serves Rock and Walworth counties in southeastern Wisconsin. They have worked with HealthConnect One on community-based doula programs
African American Breastfeeding Network
African American Breastfeeding Network
4340 N 46th St, Milwaukee, WI 53216, USA
The African American Breastfeeding Network Inc. was established in 2008 to improve maternal child health and champion breastfeeding equity by (1) advocating system/policy changes, (2) partnering with community allies and (3) implementing community-based, family-centered, culturally tailored health education and support services. We partnered with founder Dalvery Blackwell to present a webinar on breastfeeding during COVID-19 in April 2020.
UCAN
UCAN
3737 N Mozart St, Chicago, IL 60618, USA
The vision of UCAN is to see youth who have suffered trauma become our future leaders. Its mission is to build strong youth and families through compassionate healing, education and empowerment. They have worked with HealthConnect One on community-based doula programs
Access Community Health Network
Access Community Health Network
600 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60661, USA
ACCESS provides a continuum of care model that connects patients to health care resources both within and beyond the walls of 35 federally-qualified health centers (FQHCs).
True to Life Foundation
True to Life Foundation
1712 E 87th St, Chicago, IL 60617, USA
The mission of True to Life Foundation is to promote competent, complete and creative families through education, crisis intervention and restorative programs. They have worked with HealthConnect One on breastfeeding peer counselor programs.
Northeast Mississippi Birthing Project
Northeast Mississippi Birthing Project
1800 W Main St Suite 201 Tupelo, MS 38801
A community-based volunteer organization following the International Birthing Project model started in Sacramento, CA, they provide any pregnant woman with a sister-friend. They have worked with HealthConnect One on breastfeeding peer counselor and community-based doula programs.
Families First & Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential
Families First & Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential
1718 Peachtree St., s 405 NE Atlanta GA 30309
The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP) is a statewide adolescent health organization that partners with communities to help ensure young people are equipped with the knowledge, information, and motivation they need to make healthy choices - choices that help them tap into and maximize their potential.
Heart of Georgia Healthy Start
Heart of Georgia Healthy Start
912 Bellevue Ave Dublin GA 31021
Heart of Georgia Healthy Start is a locally planned and implemented infant mortality reduction project. It is part of a network of federally funded Healthy Start programs, but their project is unique and was specially designed by members of their community.
Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association
Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association
19750 Burt Rd., Room 205, Detroit MI 48219
BMBFA's mission is to reduce racial inequities in breastfeeding support for black families.BMBFA is nationally accredited by Health Connect One for its community-based doula program.
Community Health and Social Services Center
Community Health and Social Services Center
5635 W Fort St, Detroit, MI 48209
In 1970 Hispanic leaders negotiated the first-ever joint venture with local and state public health officials and CHASS began providing limited medical services to the uninsured and underinsured populations of Detroit.
BirthMatters
BirthMatters
501 Howard Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303, USA
BirthMatters reduces teen pregnancy through reproductive health education and empowers expectant young adults to raise healthy families through doulas utilizing the community health worker model.
Maternity Care Coalition
Maternity Care Coalition
2000 Hamilton St, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA
Since 1980, Maternity Care Coalition has assisted more than 135,000 families throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, focusing particularly on neighborhoods with high rates of poverty, infant mortality, health disparities, and changing immigration patterns. They have worked with HealthConnect One on community-based doula programs.
We've partnered across more than 50 communities in 20 states to design peer-to-peer support programs for communities that have been historically marginalized and inadequately served
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community-based doulas and breastfeeding advocates were trainedStay Connected
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