Expanding Access to Perinatal Healthcare and Supportive Services that Address Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) - Project Abstract
The State University of New York at Old Westbury proposes the following project, titled “Expanding Access to Perinatal Healthcare and Supportive Services that Address Social Determinants of Health (SDoH).” This project will collaborate with Babyphoria, a nonprofit organization that provides perinatal support and services in Brooklyn, New York. This project will expand services to two communities in Queens, New York.
The goals of this project are to reduce the number of pregnant and/or postpartum individuals who are uninsured, reduce the number of pregnant and/or postpartum individuals who go without needed medical care, to expand access to healthcare and support for expectant families and to diversify the lactation field. These goals will be met through interventions developed by SUNY Old Westbury in collaboration with Babyphoria, followed by evaluations conducted by the State University of New York at Old Westbury of the impact of such interventions. The State University of New York at Old Westbury is requesting $254,983 which will be spent on the following:
Under this project, SUNY Old Westbury will partner with Babyphoria to expand the services provided to include health navigation services to participants. Healthcare Navigation Services (HCNS) will include assessing the need for health insurance, linkages to enrollment specialists, referrals to culturally relevant care, and referrals to community and government organizations that address the social determinants of health.
The Expanding Access to Perinatal Healthcare and Supportive Services that Address SDoH program will also implement biannual Community Health Education Baby Showers and Resource Fairs that will act as one-stop health fairs that connect participants to community resources and other expectant parents and families. These “Baby Showers” will deliver critical health information such as breastfeeding education, safe sleep education, perinatal mental health referrals, and car seat safety educatio and foster social connections. The Baby Showers will also address financial stressors by providing expectant parents with resources and supplies for their newborns and infants.
The program will design and pilot a Fatherhood Social Determinants of Health Program in Brownsville Brooklyn that includes providing fathers with parenting tips and connecting them to health insurance programs, healthcare providers, vocational training, and mental health providers.
Babyphoria operates a weekly breastfeeding support group in Brownville, Brooklyn. This group is operated by two Registered Nurses who are Internationally Board-Certified Lactation Consultants. The Expanding Access to Perinatal Healthcare and Supportive Services that Address Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) with evaluate the existing the breastfeeding support group and create an evidence-based, culturally tailored breastfeeding support group that can be nationally replicated. The support group will also serve as a training avenue for potential lactation professionals who identify as people of color.
