SISTERS in BIRTH SISTERS in BIRTH

The organization's community health worker (CHW) program provides free nonmedical, evidenced based prenatal, birth, and postpartum services to families who primarily reside in Hinds County. Over 80% of the clients were Black, single, pregnant/mothers, Medicaid members, and noncollege graduates who work low income jobs without health benefits. The CHWs educated, coached, and counseled the clients to adopt healthy behavioral health modifications to reduce their risk for maternal morbidities that increase the risk of fetal deaths, cesarean deliveries, preterm births, low birth weight babies, and maternal and infant mortality. The intervention is predominantly based on nutrition, physical activity, drug cessation, safe sex, and immunization as factors to improve reproductive health outcomes. Clients received care during group and individual sessions where they engaged in education, exercise, and stress management facilitated by CHWs. Also, expecting fathers were trained to function as birth coaches during labor and delivery. CHWs also provided postpartum care in the home that included assistance with breastfeeding support, vital checks, and maternal mortality warning signs. Clients who completed the program received a free prenatal supplement, pack n- play, diapers, and onesies.