The Coalition for Healthy Babies is a network of local professionals committed to improving the health and well-being of women and children in need. I was inspired to spearhead the coalition after watching countless women prepare for, deliver and care for infants without the support necessary to produce positive outcomes for mom and baby. As I watched these women struggle through what should be a joyous time in their lives, I was reminded that no one should have to go it alone.
At its core, the Coalition is a referral network composed of MCH and medical professionals, as well as others uniquely involved in the lives of women and very young children. The diverse membership of the Coalition includes everyone from doulas and lactation counselors, to prenatal yoga instructors and Family Practice Physicians. These members make a concerted effort to connect existing and future clients to all the resources the Coalition affords through timely referrals to trusted professionals. The motto of the referral system is “no closed doors”, and members are confident that their client will receive the same caliber of service with any other member.
Beyond direct services referrals, the Coalition for Healthy Babies leads advocacy and awareness efforts around maternal and child health issues such as breastfeeding, infant mortality prevention, and non-medicalized birth. Coalition activities include workgroup meetings, shared professional development opportunities, and community events to connect families to needed resources.
What sets the Coalition for Healthy Babies apart from other networks is a unique focus on the women and children most in need of services. Families facing poverty, homelessness, and other social crises are most in need of support services and quality medical care, but least likely to receive them in most cases. The Coalition operates on the liberation theology principle of a “preferential option for the poor”; this is the approach used by Dr. Paul Farmer and Partners in Health in support of providing top-notch medical care to people suffering with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in some of the poorest countries in the world.
I hope that you will join me in making the Coalition for Healthy Babies a reality.
The LRN Group 