Breastfeeding  | Infant Formula Crisis ResourcesWe are currently facing an infant formula crisis. There is a severe shortage of formula, and children are going hungry. ALL babies deserve to be safely and adequately fed. As the United States grapes with this crisis, we know that Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities facing marginalization may be particularly affected by this crisis. HealthConnect […] |
Racial Justice  | Preserving Black Futures; Resisting White SupremacyThe HealthConnect One team mourns the loss of Black grandmas, uncles, dads, sisters, and moms, at the hands of White supremacy in Buffalo on Sunday. In a country where growing theories and hate target the joy of Black birth, our team remains focused and strengthened to continue our work. The preservation and survival of Black […] |
Breastfeeding  | Feature: Supporting Black Breastfeeding In WichitaFor many Black birthing families across the country, breastfeeding intention and initiation continue to pose a challenge. From the presence of infant formula in maternity wards to the failure of healthcare providers to encourage Black Breastfeeding to the lack of community support for Black Breastfeeding, the breastfeeding inequity gap continues to widen. At HealthConnect One, […] |
Community-Based Doula  | Announcing the first Community Doula Week!We are thrilled to share that HealthConnect One is partnering with BirthMatters to host the first-ever Community Doula Week! Community Doula Week is a weeklong campaign to highlight the unique and life-saving support community doulas offer birthing people and their families. This campaign was dreamed up by Eboni Williams, a BirthMatters community-based doula serving her community in Spartanburg, […] |
Current Opportunities  | Join the HealthConnect One Team!Our team is growing and we are hiring for two new positions! We are seeking individuals with passion/and or experience working on birth/reproductive justice or issues related to racial justice or other complex issues in a social justice context. Communications & Digital Advocacy Manager Position: Communications and Digital Advocacy ManagerReports To: Director of Communications and […] |
COVID-19  | COVID-19 Vaccines & ChildrenCOVID-19 continues to affect Black, Brown and Indigenous communities, including children, disproportionately. The only way to fight this virus and save our communities is by providing pregnant people and parenting families with the accurate, up-to-date information they need to make informed decisions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Children 5 to 11 years old may now be […] |
Advocacy & Action  | On Behalf of Birthing FamiliesWe are proud to join Families USA, Community Catalyst, The National Partnership on Women & Families, and Protect Our Care and over 200 national, state, and community organizations in thanking the House of Representatives for the momentous gains made in the Build Back Better Act, reinforcing the need to keep the package intact as it […] |
Advocacy & Action  | Build Back Better Passes the House!Earlier this month, the Biden Administration made history by signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act! The Bill, which will provide historic investment in our transportation, broadband, and infrastructure, is set to accelerate our economic recovery. While this is fantastic news, it’s time for Congress to rise to the occasion again and prove that they […] |
Community-Based Doula  | Undoing Racism to Improve Birth Outcomes in RochesterLast week, HealthConnect One joined Finger Lakes Performing Provider System, Finger Lakes Community Health, and the Healthy Baby Network launched the Rochester Doula Hub. This timely collaboration will provide culturally reflective community-based doula support to improve Black birth outcomes in Rochester. Health inequities have long been tied to racism, poverty, physical environment, and stress, all […] |
Advocacy & Action  | Take Action for Birthing FamiliesCongress will soon decide on a social infrastructure legislative package that could be transformative for birthing families, including critical Momnibus investments and establishing the first national paid family & medical leave insurance program! Black Maternal Health The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 builds on existing maternal health legislation, like policies to extend postpartum […] |
Spotlight  | Introducing Tamela Milan-Alexander, our new Board ChairLast week, Mairita Smiltars stepped down as chair of HealthConnect One’s Board after a successful run during a global pandemic and racial reckoning. HealthConnect One Executive Director, Dr. Twylla Dillion shared the following: “We’re grateful for the many years of support that our exiting Board Chair, Marita Smiltars has provided, most critically helping HC One […] |
Press Release  | Innovating Doula Program to Address Racial Health DisparitiesDoulas play a crucial role in combating the discrimination, racism, and loss of autonomy thatBlack and Brown birthing people experience due to historical disinvestment. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE // September 29, 2021 Through its System Transformation and Community Investment Program, Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) is partnering with Healthy Baby Network, HealthConnect One, and Finger […] |
Breastfeeding  | Reflecting on National Breastfeeding Month: #NBM21 in ReviewAs National Breastfeeding Month comes to a close today, we reflect on the activities and learnings on promoting breastfeeding intention, initiation, and duration during the month of August 2021. From the first-ever National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week to Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association’s Michigan Community-Based Doula Summit, we are inspired by the […] |
Community-Based Doula  | HealthConnect One Awarded NJ Department of Health Grant To Strengthen, Expand Community DoulasFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE // August 26, 2021 Trenton, New Jersey – The New Jersey Department of Health today announced the award of a grant to HealthConnect One to develop a diverse community doula workforce to support women during pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and early parenting. HealthConnect One will establish a Doula Learning Collaborative to increase the […] |
Black History  | Op-ed: Why We Need a Black Breastfeeding WeekAugust is National Breastfeeding Month, and in the U.S., there’s also a time to commemorate and uplift Black Breastfeeding Week during the last week of the month. As with many similar commemorations, some might question the need for a separate event based on race. All babies can benefit from breastfeeding. Why the need for Black Breastfeeding Week? […] |
Advocacy & Action  | Congress, We Need Permanent Maternal Health AidOur country’s maternal health crisis is an active policy choice – one that enables entirely preventable deaths of our nation’s mamas, birthing people, and infants. Lawmakers need to include measures tackling maternal health disparities in the upcoming reconciliation package. Earlier this week, HealthConnect One joined 200+ groups and organizations pressing congress to make maternal health […] |
Events  | Lactation Across BordersNational Breastfeeding Month | Roundtable Discussion Date: August 30th | Time: 2:00 PM EST | ZOOM Webinar The declining health status of immigrant groups through generations is varied and complex, as are the breastfeeding practices and available support across communities. To close out National Breastfeeding Month, HealthConnect One is hosting a roundtable discussion on […] |
First Food Equity  | Announcing the First Food Equity ProjectDiversifying the breastfeeding lactation support workforce will reduce breastfeeding disparities among BIPOC communities. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE // July 30, 2021 Chicago, Illinois — Through $1.2 million from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, HealthConnect One will increase access to community-based peer-to-peer breastfeeding support, critical to increasing breastfeeding rates and driving down infant mortality rates in Black, Brown, and Indigenous […] |
Current Opportunities  | We’re Hiring for two Coordinator PositionsOur team is growing and we are hiring for two new positions! We are seeking individuals with passion/and or experience working on birth/reproductive justice or issues related to racial justice or other complex issues in a social justice context. Business Development Coordinator – CLOSED Position: Trainer/Business Development CoordinatorReports To: Director of Business Development and ExpansionCategory: […] |
Annual Campaign  | Birthing Hope Virtual FundraiserWe raised $20,000+ for birthing families! During our Birthing Hope Virtual Fundraiser on June 24th, our network of families, advocates, and birthworkers displayed their commitment to birthing hope for Black, Brown, and Indigenous families through support of culturally-reflective doulas, breastfeeding peer counselors, and community health workers. We are so grateful for all of our sponsors, donors, […] |
COVID-19  | COVID-19 Vaccines & Pregnancy/LactationCOVID-19 continues to affect Black, brown and indigenous people disproportionately. Mistrust of the medical system, misinformation about the virus, and poor COVID-19 management, make it unsurprising that our communities have less trust in the vaccine. The only way to fight this virus and save our communities is by providing pregnant people and parenting families with […] |
Racial Justice  | We Mourn and Stand In Solidarity With AAPI CommunityWe are deeply saddened by the violence in Georgia that has taken eight lives, six of whom were Asian American women. We mourn with the families of these victims. We are horrified and continue to be concerned for the safety of our Asian American community members as violence towards this community continues to grow. As an […] |
Advocacy & Action  | Doulas and Postpartum Home Visits May be Covered Under Medicaid in New Illinois ProposalOn Friday, the Illinois legislature will start discussing a new bill that would allow doulas to be covered under Medicaid. The bill It would cover weekly prenatal doula services, labor and delivery and doula services up to a year after birth. Dr. Twylla Dillon, HealthConnect, One Executive Director, released the following statement in support of […] |
Black History  | Black Breastfeeding after a History of Traumaby Mekha McGuire —– In the conversation on Reproductive Justice and Birthing Equity, the climate is one of immense urgency. With public breastfeeding now legal in all 50 states as of July this year, there’s a lot of momentum around birth equity, breastfeeding, and the rights of mothers in both the private and public spheres, […] |
AAPI Month  | Celebrating AAPI MonthCentering AAPI Voices in Breastfeeding Advocacy As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI), HealthConnect One is highlighting the impactful work of To-wen Tseng, who has dedicated her career to centering AAPI voices in her breastfeeding advocacy. To-wen is a mother, journalist, author, and activist. She has been a key voice for […] |
Annual Reports  | HealthConnect One Annual Report 2021We’re proud to release our 2021 Annual Report, Planting Seeds for Future Generations. “We are like a community garden; we support birth workers to empower birthing people and co-create with other organizations. We ensure that the garden for Black, Brown and Indigenous communities is thriving in a healthy and safe environment for future generations.” This […] |
Annual Campaign  | #GivingTuesday2021Mark your calendars for #GivingTuesday2021! As we look forward to the future, babies, birthing people, and their families need our support now more than ever! HealthConnect One is participating in #GivingTuesday2021 on November 30, 2021. GivingTuesday is a Global Day of Generosity that strives to build a world in which the power of generosity is at the heart […] |