WEST CHESTER, PA (July 12, 2024) – In an effort to help improve maternal health and birthing outcomes in Chester County, state Senator Carolyn Comitta secured new grant funding for the Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County (MCHC) to offer doula services.
“Families in Chester County deserve access to resources and support services that help improve health outcomes and MCHC is a vital partner in providing much-needed health and wellness programming for women and children in our communities,” said Comitta. “I am proud to support this funding to expand their Prenatal and Parenting Home Visiting Program to include doula services and provide more holistic care to mothers and families.
The grant awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services will support a community-based Birth Doula Initiative to offer ongoing, personalized support from early pregnancy through the postpartum period.
Doulas are professionals trained to assist with one-on-one physical, emotional, and informational support throughout the birthing experience.
“We are immensely grateful to Senator Comitta and her staff for their unwavering support in implementing this vital model,” said Milena Lanz, Executive Director of the Maternal and Child Health Consortium. “MCHC is addressing a critical gap in Chester County to support the most high-risk pregnant mothers, ensuring they can deliver healthy babies. This gap was identified through our Perinatal Periods of Risk Project (PPOR) and is a key objective in our Community Action Plan. Expanding and enriching our Prenatal and Parenting home visiting program with a community-based Birth Doula Initiative is one of our strategic goals. This initiative will provide one-to-one intimate support prenatally, during labor and delivery, and postpartum.”
A member of the Women’s Health Caucus, Comitta also supports the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services move to allow certified doulas to enroll as Medicaid providers and has co-sponsored legislation that would reimburse Medicaid recipients for doula services.
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