In 2018, DC had the nation’s highest maternal mortality rate, more than double the national average. The mortality rate for infants of Brown and Black mothers was three to five times that of white mothers. The first step in reversing the trend is accessing early prenatal care, so NWC helps women obtain health insurance, connects them to the care they need, and educates them about SIDS, which accounts for 4.6% of infant deaths in DC. Whether they are living in the Maternity Home or accessing services at the Pregnancy Center, women identify needs and goals, learn parenting skills, receive material assistance like food and diapers (ongoing during the pandemic, especially for quarantined families and those with underlying health conditions) and get connected to community resources (childcare, educational support, job training and placement). Even in pandemics, babies will be born and mothers will need help.
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