Resource List updated 4-22-2020
Dear HealthConnect One Community,
We want to connect with all of our community-based doulas, CHW’s and partner organizations to make sure you stay safe during this difficult time.
HealthConnect One is monitoring and following the recommendations of U.S. Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization and Prevention and the Chicago Public Health Department. We will update this page as needed with resources and responses to the coronavirus pandemic.
First, please take care of yourself and others! To prevent spread of COVID-19, the HealthConnect One team are working remotely, not traveling and practicing social distancing. Please contact HealthConnect One staff using our individual cell phones or email.
Here are maternal health recommendations from the World Health Organization:
“Infected mothers who are breastfeeding or practicing skin-to-skin should wear a medical mask, perform careful hand hygiene, and clean and disinfect all surfaces. Infected mothers should still be provided with breastfeeding support. If complications prevent the infected parent from breastfeeding, they should be encouraged and supported to express milk for the infant for someone else to feed to the baby or to maintain milk supply. There should be no promotion of breastmilk substitutes (formula) or pacifiers.”
“Mothers and infants should be enabled to remain together and practice skin-to-skin contact, kangaroo mother care and to remain together and to practice rooming-in throughout the day and night, especially immediately after birth during establishment of breastfeeding, whether they or their infants have suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19.”The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has also released the following statement regarding doulas and COVID-19:
“We support doulas as partners in care and acknowledge their ability to provide physical, emotional, and partner support to women. AWHONN opposes hospital policies that restrict the presence of a doula in the inpatient setting during an infectious disease outbreak.”
Below are resource links to organization providing updates and recommendations that might during this difficult time:
For birth workers and families
- Association of Maternal Child Health Programs (AMCHP) MCH Resources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
- Birthing People’s Bill of Rights
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention– FAQ
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Pregnancy and Covid-19
- CDC Guidance On Living with Extended Family (PDF)
- DONA COVID-19 Toolkit
- March of Dimes – Moms and Babies COVID-19 Intervention and Support Fund
- National Association of Community Health Workers Resources for CHWs
- National Perinatal Association
- United States Breastfeeding Committee
- World Health Organization resources on maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health
Recursos en Español
- Alimentación Segura Infantil IYCF (Español)
- Organización Panamericana de la Salud (Español)
Other agencies on the ground (list in formation)
- African-American Breastfeeding Network
- Birth Matters
- Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association
- Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere, ROSE
- Southern Birth Justice Network
- Sisterweb
For human service agencies/nonprofits
- Candid has a searchable database of grant resources (including more than 500 serving areas across the U.S.)
- Nonprofit Finance Fund resources (English and Spanish)
- Timely article from NICHQ on the Census and Children’s Health
City of Chicago updates
If you have additional resources for individuals and organizations supporting moms and their families please email dpando@healthconnectone.org. These resources and responses are being collected on our website at https://healthconnectone.org/covid-19.
Lastly, if you or a loved one is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, call ahead before visiting your doctor. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
Sincerely,
HealthConnect One Staff