The Sister Circle: Black Birth & Breastfeeding Initiative Program (SC3BI) is a program within MVPMS, in collaboration with Hope Chapel AME Zion Church, funded in part by an award from Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield that will provide free access to doula care and breastfeeding support to women of color in the Greater Utica area in hopes of eliminating social barriers to black maternal-child health equity and decrease the maternal-child health disparity among Black/Latin women. The black maternal mortality rate is 3-4 times the rate of white maternal mortality in the U.S. Click Here to download our program brochure.
Doula Training
MVPMS annually hosts culturally sensitive training taught by DONA International Certified Doula Trainers. Women of color that are passionate about childbirth and breastfeeding are selected during a rigorous application process, to be trained as Labor (birth) Doulas & Post Partum Doulas which includes lactation (breastfeeding counselor) support training as well. Along with doula training, these women partake in monthly business mentorship meetings and are paired with local pregnant women of color or mothers that have recently given birth, to support them during pregnancy, labor, breastfeeding and recovery after birth.
INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING
OUR CAUSE?
ARE YOU PREGNANT, LOOKING FOR DOULA SUPPORT?
INTERESTED IN
BECOMING A DOULA?
Or volunteering within our program?
