12.08.21
In the United States, Black mothers-to-be are disproportionately impacted by maternal mortality and poor birth outcomes.
To make a positive impact on birth outcomes for Black families in need, Carol’s Daughter, and its founder, Lisa Price, along with the Mama Glow Foundation and its founder, Latham Thomas, have teamed to commit $225,000 over the next three years through its Love Delivered Initiative to fund doula services and provid doula education grants for aspiring birth workers.
A doula is a professional labor assistant who provides physical and emotional support to you and your partner during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
Love Delivered was launched in April by Carol's Daughter and the Mama Glow Foundation with a focus on raising awareness of the Black Maternal Health Crisis in the United States, and the importance of doulas and advocates when Black birthing people and babies are most vulnerable.
Starting today, Black birthing people can apply for a grant to be matched with a Mama Glow -trained doula for complimentary doula support. The grant is accessible to pregnant or recently postpartum applicants located in the New York Metropolitan Area, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. with other major cities to follow.
"I was blessed to have my husband and dear friend serve as my birthing advocates,” said Price. “They recognized my needs and spoke to me and up for me in so many ways. "My hope is that with this grant program, more Black birthing people are heard and supported and most of all, lives are saved."
By 2024, Love Delivered aims to raise awareness about Black Maternal Health among 100 million people and directly engage 10,000 people to become advocates through event activations, maternal health forums, webinars, access to resources and Love Delivered self-care gifting.
"Birth is meant to be a joyful, transcendent and empowering event,” said Thomas. “Everyone deserves to have access to safe, affordable, respectful and dignified care throughout the perinatal continuum. Mama Glow doulas approach care from a trauma informed framework and can help to support families impacted by injustice and inequity, grounding them with tools for advocacy, healing, transformation and empowerment.”
If you or a loved one is pregnant and in need of a doula, visit mamaglowfoundation.org/love-delivered/ to apply, become an advocate and learn more.