Healthy Start Celebrates Black Maternal Health Week at April 15 Event

Black women are three times as likely to die during childbirth as White women. This is a startling national statistic.

Martin County has not had a maternal death since 2009, an important achievement, but Martin County Healthy Start Coalition CEO Samantha Suffich reminds the community that there is still a disparity between the experiences of Black and White women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period. Black women, for example, frequently begin getting prenatal care later in their pregnancy than White women, which can lead to complications during childbirth or after the birth of the baby.

“Healthy Start is committed to ensuring that every baby is born healthy, every mother is supported, and every father is involved, regardless of race or income. We are reaching out to the Black community especially during Black Maternal Health Week,” Suffich says, “so they know how to find us and what resources we can offer.”

During the free event on Saturday, April 15 at the 10th Street Community Center in Stuart, Healthy Start and its community partners will offer information about available services along with fun activities for the whole family. There will be music, snacks, face painting, fairy hair, and the feel of a strong community.

Not quite a Baby Shower, the event is being described as a “Baby Sprinkle.” Everyone is welcome to attend. Community organizations that want to participate or anyone with questions can contact Healthy Start’s Community Engagement Manager Jill Taylor at jtaylor@mchealthystart.org.

About Martin County Healthy Start

Martin County Healthy Start is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every baby is born healthy. It provides educational and health services to pregnant women, new mothers and their families at no cost, particularly expectant mothers who are at risk for late or no prenatal care.

Part of a statewide coalition, Healthy Start connects pregnant women and young mothers with essential services including prenatal care, home visitations by a nurse or social worker, breastfeeding support, parenting education, car seat and sleeping safety, a free diaper pantry, and access to other community partner agencies through the Betty Moore Prenatal Outreach Center. The David Cardno Father and Child Resource Center, also part of the Martin County Healthy Start Coalition, helps fathers to become more involved in parenting and offers legal assistance to fathers who are separated from their children.

The programs of Martin County Healthy Start Coalition are voluntary and available to all Florida residents at no cost.

For more information about Martin County Healthy Start Coalition and its ongoing programs, visit www.mchealthystart.org, call 772-463-2888 or follow the organization on Facebook. comprehensive range of no-cost educational and health services to pregnant women and their families, particularly those who are at risk for late or no prenatal care.

###