Springfield Urban League starts new program to help moms

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions as white women.

That's a statistic that Tatyana Gardner, the director of health initiatives at Springfield Urban League, took into account when creating the EMPOWER[HER] program.

"Our EMPOWER[HER] program is a program that we connect community mothers to African American doulas," Gardner said. "They get monthly services, we provide them with the very needed resources that they need. So we give them car seats, strollers, bassinets, we do breastfeeding education."

Gardner said these are critical services for many moms, but they struggle to access help. She's quick to provide information to moms, including Elnora Bellamy, whom she met at a restaurant.

"I ordered my food and sat down, and me and my husband was discussing [that] we got less than a week, and we need to get a car seat," Bellamy said. "Then Ms. Tatyana came over and said I have this program for you. I can help you get a car seat and so much more."

Gardner was able to put Bellamy in contact with one of the EMPOWER[HER] program doulas, Juanyai Moore. The two started talking about plans and Bellamy's due date, which was about a week and a half away. But none of the women expected Bellamy to go into labor just hours later.

Bellamy's husband had to stay home with their kids because of hospital visitor restrictions. But Moore was able to step in and support Bellamy.

"You don't want to be alone giving birth, no matter what situation you are in," Moore said. "And if I can change that for a woman, that's what I want to do."

Moore stayed by Bellamy's side throughout her entire labor process. She even got to cut the umbilical cord when baby Kingston entered the world.

Gardner came to the hospital with a car seat, bottles and other supplies. When Bellamy returned home, there were clothes and other items waiting for her as well.

"That was the best thing to get home the next day and see I got diapers and wipes and baby clothes, and I got the whole bundle package," Bellamy said. "I didn't ask for all this, but that's what the EMPOWER[HER] Health Initiatives program gets you."

Now Kingston has an entire support system, as does his mom. Moore still checks in on them and Gardner has connected the family with other resources. Bellamy has been encouraging other mothers to check out the program and get support.

For more information on the EMPOWER[HER] program and other services by the Springfield Urban League, is online.

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