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.
Current Projects
Project
Doula Data and Compensation Project
HealthConnect One, in partnership with SisterWeb, has convened a data-focused doula consortium for community-based doulas that will develop a shared agenda and vision for community-based doula programming, advocacy, and evidence building.
Read the Case Study
Project
Early Relational Health Collaboration
In 2022, HealthConnect One and the Center for the Study of Social Policy announced a partnership aimed at helping to eliminate racial disparities in maternal and infant health by expanding the community-based doula workforce and raising awareness of the foundational importance of early relationships among mothers, birthing families, babies, and communities.
Read the Press Release
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:
Bakst, Chloe, Jennifer E. Moore, Karen E. George, Karen Shea. (May 2020). Community-Based Maternal Support Services: The Role of Doulas and Community Health Workers in Medicaid. Institute for Medicaid Innovation. Report
Ellmann, Nora. (April 14, 2020) Community-Based Doulas and Midwives: Key to Addressing the U.S. Maternal Health Crisis, Center for American Progress Article and Video
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children & Families Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness. (June 2015) Implementing HealthConnect One's® Community-Based Doula Program Program Profile Web Page
Edwards, R.C., Thullen, M., Korfmacher, J., Lantos, J.D., Henson, L.G., and Hans, S.L. (2013). Breastfeeding and Complementary Food: Randomized Trial of Community Doula Home Visiting Pediatrics, 132:Supplement 2 S160-S166 Abstract
Hans, S. L., Thullen, M., Henson, L. G., Lee, H., Edwards, R. C. and Bernstein, V. J. (2013). Promoting Positive Mother-Infant Relationships: A Randomized Trial of Community Doula Support for Young Mothers Infant Mental Health Journal, 34: 446-457 Abstract
Altfeld, S. (2002).The Chicago Doula Project Evaluation Final Report The Ounce of Prevention Fund: Chicago, IL Download from HealthConnect One
Bartick, M. C., Stuebe, A. M., Schwarz, E. B., Luongo, C., Reinhold, A. G., Foster, E. M. (2013, July). Cost Analysis of Maternal Disease Associated With Suboptimal Breastfeeding Obstetrics & Gynecology: Volume 122 - Issue 1 - p 111-119. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e318297a047 Abstract
Bartick M. and Reinhold A. (2010, May). The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: a Pediatric Cost Analysis Pediatrics. 125(5):e1048-56. doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-1616 Abstract
Novoa, Cristina. (January 31, 2020). Ensuring Healthy Births Through Prenatal Support: Innovations From Three Models Center for American Progress Early Childhood. Article
Taylor, Jamila, Cristina Novoa, Katie Hamm, and Shilpa Phadke. (May 2, 2019). Eliminating Racial Disparities in Maternal and Infant Mortality: A Comprehensive Policy Blueprint. Center for American Progress Article.
Main, Malkia. (June 2017). Beyond the Breast: Culturally Competent Doulas as a Breastfeeding Intervention University of Washington School of Public Health Northwest Bulletin. Volume 32, Breastfeeding Article
Romano, A. (2014, November 14). Care Models That Work: Community-Based Doulas Maternity Neighborhood Article
Lombardi, J., Mosle, A., Patel, N., Schumacher, R. and Stedron, J. (2014). Gateways to Two Generations: The Potential for Early Childhood Programs and Partnerships to Support Children and Their Parents Together Ascend at The Aspen Institute - Promising Approaches, p. 16 Report
Cawthorne, A. and Arons, J. (2010, January 5). There's No Place Like Home: Home Visiting Programs Can Support Pregnant Women and New Parents Center for American Progress: Washington, DC Memo
Gentry, Q. M., Nolte, K. M., Gonzalez, A., Pearson, M., and Ivey, S. (2010). Going Beyond the Call of Doula: A Grounded Theory Analysis of the Diverse Roles Community-Based Doulas Play in the Lives of Pregnant and Parenting Adolescent Mothers The Journal of Perinatal Education, 19(4): 24-40. doi: 10.1624/105812410X530910 Abstract
Amnesty International Publications. (2010, updated 2011). Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA Amnesty International Secretariat, London Report
Brown, M. H. (2008, April 11). Chicago Project Delivers Support to Young Mothers-to-Be Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Local Funding Partnerships: Program Results / Grant ID: 29806 Report download
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