BWPC PARTNERS WITH SUPERVISOR LUIS CHAVEZ AND FIRST 5 FRESNO TO ADDRESS MATERNAL INFANT DISPARITIES

The following is quoted from the article, ‘Institutional racist policies’: Fresno County supervisor pushes to reduce Black infant deaths' by Sydney Charles.

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"As chair for the First 5 Fresno County, Supervisor Chavez says this issue is a top funding priority. 

“The funding is a combination of funds from Fresno County Department of Public Health, but also the First Five Fresno County Commission. They’ve actually allocated, I believe, $158,000 since last year, to focus on prioritizing these health disparities in our African American community,” he said.

His plan is to work alongside local organizations like BWPC in order to create meaningful solutions. 

Mbong says their nonprofit specifically targets decreasing maternal and infant mortality rates in Fresno. 

She explained, “Our organization is very happy to provide and be a resource for our community, whether it’s through the Black Doula network where we are creating an infrastructure for our doulas to get access into hospitals and to support these women who are really wanting support, and also through our pregnancy care groups that we’re excited to be starting next month.”

They are now working together to expand the BWPC’s non-clinical group care services and implement group prenatal care.

“We’ve been really excited to partner with First Five and Supervisor Chavez to start implementing group prenatal care and support here at BWPC. This first stage, we will be gathering moms and creating a space where they can come and connect with community. We’ll support them through their pregnancy as a support group and in the second phase, we will be able to host and to have prenatal care here at this facility, where they will not have to go to another facility to receive their prenatal care,” Mbong said. 

Chavez hopes the impact of their partnership will last for years to come."

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