HAPPY MAMA HEALTHY BABY ALLIANCE

Happy Mamas Growing Healthy Babies

Pasadena, CA   |  https://motherbabysupport.net

Mission

To promote high-quality, family-centered, evidence-based maternity and newborn care, and improved health outcomes for all families. Our work focuses on addressing health care disparities and to engendering a more equitable maternity care system for all pregnant women, persons, and infants. As multicultural and multidisciplinary professionals serving pregnant and parenting families, we offer Doula services, childbirth preparation classes, breastfeeding support, and maternal-infant mental health workshops and support groups. We also offer professional training, certification and networking opportunities for mental health and perinatal health professionals. Our focus areas are: Community Doula Program Training & Certification for Childbirth & Postpartum Doulas

Notes from the nonprofit

We are committed to social justice in maternity care. We seek to address the inequities experienced by persons of color who have poorest birth outcomes for mothers and infants in the US due to institutionalized racism and historical inequities such as infant mortality and maternal mortality. We provide training opportunities for persons of color to become skilled birth workers to help address these persistent disparities in maternal and child health. We offer training, mentorship and direct supportive services to low-income communities of color such as Doula Support, Childbirth Education and Lactation Support.

Ruling year info

2014

Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director

Cordelia S. Hanna-Cheruiyot

Chief Operating Officer

Aluwatosin "Tosin" Atolagabe

Main address

600 Linclon Ave. Unit 92495

Pasadena, CA 91109 USA

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Formerly known as

Wholistic Midwifery School of Southern California

The Association for Wholistic Maternal and Newborn Health

EIN

95-4451418

NTEE code info

Women's Rights (R24)

Employment Procurement Assistance and Job Training (J20)

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (E01)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

For too long America has failed to acknowledge the outrageous and seemingly intractable rates of poor maternal health and deaths of mothers in childbirth. The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any industrialized country in the world. More than two women die every day in the US from pregnancy-related causes. And while the vast majority of countries have reduced their maternal mortality ratios, for the past 25 years the numbers of women lost during pregnancy, birth or postpartum have increased dramatically in the U.S. African-American women in the U.S. are at especially high risk; they are nearly 4 times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications compared to European American women. Women of color are less likely to go into pregnancy in good health because of a lack of access to primary health care services. They are also less likely to have access to adequate maternal health care services. Black women are by far the largest demographic to suffer.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

B.I.R.T.H. (Birth Information and Resources for Teen Health) Mother-Mentor Program

This program provides teen pregnant women with informational, emotional and practical support to have healthy pregnancies and good births. Prenatal education, labor companion support, postpartum care, breastfeeding counseling and mentorship from an experienced Mother-Mentor is offered.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
People of Latin American descent

Doulas are non-medical maternity and newborn care providers. They assist with medical-system navigation, prenatal, antenatal and postpartum health education, breastfeeding education and support, assessment of maternal mental health, promotion of infant mental health, advocacy, recognition and referral for complications. Research shows doula support lowers rates of prematurity, cesarean section, maternal depression, and more. Doulas are an important component of maternal and infant healthcare in order to reduce perinatal health inequities and disparities such as prematurity, maternal mortality, infant mortality, etc.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Immigrants and migrants

The program is a unique, innovative program model that trains community women to provide extended, intensive support to families throughout pregnancy, during labor and birth, and in the early months of parenting in communities that face high risks of negative birth and developmental outcomes. The perinatal support specialist certification program is for community residents throughout Los Angeles in order to give community women the skills and knowledge to support pregnant and parenting women and reduce health disparities among women in their communities.

Needed services are offered to clients who would otherwise not be able to afford quality , culturally-relevant maternity care. Upon graduation of the training program and completion of a Certified Perinatal Support Specialist (CPPS) Certification Exam and other requirements, AWMNH’s Perinatal Support Specialists are connected with expecting mothers in need of education and support. They will work with them from mid-pregnancy until several months after the birth. Services include home visitation, health education, labor support, breastfeeding support, postpartum care, newborn care instruction.

This personalized care helps to build a trusting relationship between client and Perinatal Support Specialist, helping to mitigate the stressors caused by poverty, racism and other factors, thus lowering the risk for preterm labor and premature birth and other poor outcomes for mothers.

Our target audience are women from ethnic and racial minorities with Asian and Spanish language capabilities to be trained as Perinatal Support Specialists.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
People of African descent

This is a curriculum we designed to prepare pregnant women and their partners on Understanding Birth, Making Informed Choices, and Cultivating Trust in Birth. Participants are expectant mothers and their partners and family members. Participants learn the importance of prenatal care, prevention of prematurity, anatomy & physiology of labor and birth, and making informed choices in childbirth, based on their rights as childbearing persons.

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Economically disadvantaged people

Where we work

Videos

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

OUR WORK

Our work focuses on addressing health care disparities and to engendering a more equitable maternity care system for all pregnant women, persons and infants. As multicultural and multidisciplinary professionals serving pregnant and parenting families, we offer Doula services, childbirth preparation classes, breastfeeding support, and maternal- infant mental health workshops and support groups. We also offer professional training, certification and networking opportunities for mental health and perinatal health professionals.

Our focus areas are:

Training, Certification and Continuing Education Programs for Professionals
Childbirth Doula and Postpartum Doula Services
Breastfeeding Support Services
Promoting Maternal and Infant Mental Health
Engendering Social Justice in Reproductive Health Services

OUR PHILOSOPHY
As advocates for families and babies, we seek to ensure that all childbearing persons are treated with dignity and respect during the pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum periods.
We promote a self-growth approach to pregnancy; which is a special and unique time in a woman’s and a person’s life.
We believe each pregnant woman or person should be surrounded by a loving and supportive community and each baby should be born into the hands of skilled, compassionate and respectful caregivers.
We protect the Mother/Baby dyad whose needs are mutually dependent.
We are reverent of the sacred nature of birth and are inspired by its potential to transform women, relationships, families, and communities.
We strive to improve birth outcomes for women and infants where perinatal health disparities and inequities exist.
We aim to improve the quality of maternity and newborn care in all settings.
We are dedicated to helping families have empowering, satisfying and joyous experiences from conception through gestation, childbirth, and early parenthood.

Hosting coalitions and consortiums, conferences, webinars, summits, forums to bring together diverse stakeholders in law and maternal-child health, public health, medicine, nursing, midwifery, psychology to improve health outcomes for mothers and infants, achieve public health goals, address health inequities and strategies for addressing obstetrical violence and human rights abuses during childbirth. Provide training for the maternal-child health and social service workforce in Mother-Friendly, holistic approaches to care of pregnant women and new mothers and infants.

Provide opportunities for women's economic empowerment through vocational training in the Maternal-Child Health disciplines including doula support, breastfeeding, midwifery.

Providing low-cost or free childbirth and postpartum support to low income women through our Community-Based Doula Program.

Our team consists of Midwives, Psychologists, Medical Doctors, Psychiatrists, Public Health Professionals, Medical Doctors, Registered Nurses, Lactation Consultants, Early Childhood Educators and business and public health consultants.

We have expertise in program planning and evaluation, strategic planning, outreach, curriculum design, cultural competency, midwifery, medicine.

We provide training and certification for Perinatal Support Specialists, giving community women of color the opportunity for a rewarding career in maternal health.

We also have a Community-Based Doula Program which provides emotional support, advocacy, health education and physical comfort to women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, helping to ameliorate the stress that women of color experience, and to ensure respectful care during the maternity experience.

WE HAVE...

Launched a Community-Based Doula Program serving low income women of color. Helped to lower rates of cesarean section, pain medication use. Increased maternal satisfaction with birth experience and increased breastfeeding success.

Sponsored an annual Mother-Friendly Childbirth Symposium for 4 years. Was attended by 300 Maternal-Health Professionals.

Helped one hospital in Los Angeles to become "Mother-Friendly".

Established a Community-Based Doula Program funded by Health Net, Inc. serving African-American/Black families with African-American/Black Doulas.


Hosted the first U.S. Summit on Human Rights in Childbirth.

Hosted an annual Birthing Justice Forum.

Received national recognition and an award from The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services for our Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative Consortium of Los Angeles County which is considered a best practice for national replication.

Received recognition from Lucile Roybal-Allard (D-CA) for our work.

Collaborated with Esperanza Community Housing Corporation's Community Health Promoter Program, training 75 people as Perinatal Support Specialists.

Collaborated with UCLA Center for Health Promotion's Neighborhood Mother-Mentor Well-Being Project to provide Perinatal Support Specialist Training to 15 Mother-Mentors working to lower incidence of Gestational Diabetes and lower BMI.

Successfully graduated 250 participants in our Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program, Postpartum Doula Training, Midwife Assistant Training, and Perinatal Support Specialist Training, who are now working in programs and agencies throughout Los Angeles.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Black-African/American, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, Caucasian

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings/Town halls,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback,

Financials

HAPPY MAMA HEALTHY BABY ALLIANCE
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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HAPPY MAMA HEALTHY BABY ALLIANCE

Board of directors
as of 02/22/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Oluwatosin "Tosin" Atolagbe

Happy Mama Healthy Baby Alliance

Term: 2020 - 2022

Norma Benitas

tXt

Elsie Gutierrez

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 2/18/2021

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or other sexual orientations in the LGBTQIA+ community

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

No data

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

Equity strategies

Last updated: 02/18/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.