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Creating Safe Spaces for All Moms

The goal of the Maternal Health Equity Center is to improve care, communication, and education for all moms and moms-to-be, with the focus on promoting equity in higher risk patient populations throughout the City of Buffalo.

The center will partner patients with a doula navigator who will provide doula services including emotional, informational, and physical support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Patients will be linked to services that will increase health literacy and screenings, healthy lifestyle choices and most importantly, healthy outcomes for mothers and babies.

The Maternal Health Equity Center provides services in collaboration with Calming Nature Doula.

Health Equity Program Participants

Services provided by the Maternal Health Equity Center are open to all those who meet the following eligibility requirements and are able to work with providers to follow the program expectations.

Who is eligible for the program?

  • 32 weeks pregnant or less
  • Must live in the City of Buffalo
  • Must be considered high-risk during pregnancy due to one or more of the following factors:
    • Medical conditions
    • Socio-economic conditions
    • Social determinants of health challenges
    • Racial disparity, specifically minorities such as African American women
  • Must be a patient of a Catholic Health provider, OB/GYN or midwife

What are the program expectations?

  • Attend scheduled prenatal appointments with a midwife or OB/GYN
  • Meet with a doula for minimum of 2 prenatal appointments
  • Meet with a doula for minimum of 2 postpartum appointments
  • Be comfortable having a student doula in along with the primary doula
  • Participants will call doula when labor begins
  • Must attend the childbirth education classes Centering model class, 4 classes, or a preferred class

*If participating in Buffalo’s Breastfeeding Sisters Peer support program, you must attend the breastfeeding class.

This is a pilot program running from June 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026. Program possible with funds received from the City of Buffalo, American Rescue Plan Act (ARP).  

(716) 706-2112