Research
Our work & program models are
backed by research.
In concert with the communities we serve, HealthConnect One partners with higher education institutions to conduct community-based research that advances maternal child health outcomes for underserved communities.
Together, we're building a knowledge base that advances the health of birthing families and of the community itself.
We create & collaborate on research, reports, documentaries & other products to raise awareness of racial inequities among babies and families
A key goal of HealthConnect One is to help build the field of birth equity by developing information that demonstrates the value of community-based doulas and peer support for birth workers, policymakers, and other audiences.
Recent Publications
HealthConnect One is known for the 2014 report The Perinatal Revolution, a peer-reviewed, federally-funded study that framed the problems of infant mortality and low breastfeeding rates among people of color in the U.S. and demonstrated how community-based doulas can change this.
We partner with other organizations and agencies to develop and present research from the field. A recent example is the African-American Breastfeeding Blueprint, a collaborative report produced by HealthConnect One and Reaching Our Sisters Everywhere, ROSE.
Research partners
Evidence Base
HealthConnect One's Community-Based Doula model and approach to birth equity for doulas, breastfeeding peer counselors and other community health workers has been the focus of many studies and articles. Here are a few:
You can also download this list as a PDF as well as a downloadable three-page case statement highlighting the benefits of the community-based home visiting model and brief timeline of community-based doula program replication.
Looking for something else, or know of a resource that we are missing? Let us know via our Contact Form or reach out directly to Evaluation and Learning Lead Sadie Wych, swych@healthconnectone.org.
RESEARCH ADVISORY BOARD
HealthConnect One has engaged a team of researchers from across the nation to be part of our Research Advisory Board (RAB). The RAB is a culturally representative team of researchers working in lactation, maternal-child health, maternal mental health, and racial/birth justice research. Our collaborators are proponents or practitioners of community-based participatory research as our work is rooted in Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. We are thrilled to work with this group as we explore research opportunities, develop evaluation plans for our work and build upon the great work of HealthConnect One. Inaugural members of the RAB include:
Paula A. Alio
PhD, MA, University of Rochester
Ifeyinwa Asiodu
PhD, RN, IBCLC, University of California, San Francisco
Brittany Chambers
PhD, MPH, University of California, San Francisco
Karen Tabb Dina
PhD, University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana
Tyra Gross
PhD, MPH, Xavier University
Cassondra Marshall
DrPH, MPH, Berkeley, University of California
Michele Shade McCay
DrPH, MPH, DePaul University
Angela Odoms-Young
PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
Aunchalee Palmquist
PhD, MA, IBCLC, University of North Carolina
Karie E. Stewart
MPH, MSN, CNM, APRN, University of Chicago