BirthMatters reduces teen pregnancy through reproductive health education and empowers expectant young adults to raise healthy families through doulas utilizing the community health worker model.
BirthMatters reduces teen pregnancy through reproductive health education and empowers expectant young adults to raise healthy families through doulas utilizing the community health worker model.
BirthMatters received a planning grant from the Mary Black Foundation
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare Foundation housed BirthMatters
BirthMatters conducted focus groups, visited existing doula programs in Atlanta and Pittsburgh, collected data and submitted grants during planning
Committed to serving young mothers younger than 20 years old
2009 -2010
Partnered with ReGenesis Health Care. BirthMatters became a program of ReGenesis Health Care
Secured funding from S.C. Competitive Grant, Spartanburg Regional Foundation, Longleaf Holdings LCC and Mary Black Foundation
Offered DONA (Doulas of North America) training to 10 women in Spartanburg
The trained BirthMatters doula team supported over 30 mothers and families with birth doula services with good outcomes.
Partnered with HealthConnect One to replicate their community based doula program
HealthConnect One trained 6 trainers to provide the community doula training in Spartanburg
Provided opportunities for interested women living in the Southside community to commit to the 20 week community doula training
Started the community based training at Cornerstone Baptist Church
Celebrated completion of community based doula training with a six graduates
2011
BirthMatters doulas in Spartanburg and Cherokee County supported over sixty families with doula services, with a total of 750 prenatal sessions and 370 postpartum sessions
Secured federal funding from HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) to expand services in Cherokee County
Completed the replicated twenty session Community Doula Training in Cherokee County and Spartanburg County
Hired three full time community doulas to serve first time moms in Cherokee County
The BirthMatters team attended the HealthConnect One training in Washington, D.C.
Presented at two conferences. HealthConnect One and APHA (American Public Health Association)
BirthMatters team attended the SC Campaign to Prevent Team Pregnancy conference and the Children’s Trust conference
Completed the HealthConnect One replicated ten session peer breastfeeding training to increase knowledge for staff to ensure improved breastfeeding rates
In August, BirthMatters hosted a community wide event to raise awareness on the benefits of breastfeeding at the Spartanburg County Library
Provided breast pumps to twenty moms to help increase long term breastfeeding rates
BirthMatters expanded their services to include the teen pregnancy prevention program, What Could You Do?
Secured funding from United Way, S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Mary Black Foundation
2012
BirthMatters became an independent non profit by receiving 501 (c) 3 status on July 9, 2012
BirthMatters doulas in Spartanburg and Cherokee County supported fifty-three families with doula services, with a total of 1087 prenatal sessions and 963 postpartum sessions
Served 120 young girls in Spartanburg County with teen pregnancy prevention program
Secured new funding from March of Dimes and United Way
2013
Secured new funding from Women Giving and Spartanburg Regional Foundation
Continued funding from United Way, Mary Black Foundation, March of Dimes, and S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
