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A new program will assist pregnant women in Howard County, families and health-care providers by offering prenatal, postpartum and infant resources.The Perinatal Equity and Care for Everyone (PEACE) is provided for free and is open to all pregnant and postpartum people in Howard County.| LINKS: PEACE referral/interest sign-up form | more informationThe idea is to improve outcomes for babies and their families, one pregnancy at a time, county health officials said.Ana Rodney’s son was born three months early. After his birth, she said she had life-threatening episodes that included internal bleeding, infection and blood clots that put her in the hospital three times while still trying to take care of an infant in the NICU.”My son was born at 1 pound and 5 ounces. He was on life support for six months,” Rodney said. “Not knowing if he was going to make it through the night, getting phone calls from doctors saying I should prepare myself for his loss, things like that were really hard for me, especially by myself.”Once mom and son went home, Rodney decided she wanted to make sure other Black and brown women had the support they need. So, she founded MOMCares in Baltimore. A practicing doula, Rodney and MOMCares are joining Howard County in its efforts with the PEACH project, something from which she said she could have benefited.”The PEACE project will form a streamlined process for our community members to access prenatal postpartum and infant resources in the county,” Howard County Health Officer Dr. Maura Rossman said.| LINK: Maternal health information from the Howard County Health DepartmentThe $1.7 million investment will help expand maternal and child health programs.The U.S. has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality among high-income countries, and rates have been increasing, including in Maryland, officials said. In 2021, Howard County’s preterm birth rate rose to 11%, according to the March of Dimes, which was higher than many neighboring jurisdictions and with significant racial disparities, especially among Black women.”Hispanic mothers in Howard County are four times more likely to receive insufficient prenatal care as white mothers, putting their health and the health of their babies at risk,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “The preterm birth rate for Black women is 43% higher than all other women.”PEACE connects clients with: Pregnancy resources Home visiting referral Locating a provider/specialist WIC referral Parenting support resources Emotional/mental health resources Links to community resources Assistance locating child care Childbirth/parenting education Teen parenting support referral Insurance eligibility Pregnancy options counselingPregnancy loss supportContact PEACESpeak with a perinatal care navigator: 410-313-7540Email: askhealth@howardcountymd.govIf you are in crisis, call the National Maternal Health Hotline at 833-9-HELP4MOMS| VIDEO BELOW: Pregnancy program offers resources for new moms
A new program will assist pregnant women in Howard County, families and health-care providers by offering prenatal, postpartum and infant resources.
The Perinatal Equity and Care for Everyone (PEACE) is provided for free and is open to all pregnant and postpartum people in Howard County.
| LINKS: PEACE referral/interest sign-up form | more information
The idea is to improve outcomes for babies and their families, one pregnancy at a time, county health officials said.
Ana Rodney’s son was born three months early. After his birth, she said she had life-threatening episodes that included internal bleeding, infection and blood clots that put her in the hospital three times while still trying to take care of an infant in the NICU.
“My son was born at 1 pound and 5 ounces. He was on life support for six months,” Rodney said. “Not knowing if he was going to make it through the night, getting phone calls from doctors saying I should prepare myself for his loss, things like that were really hard for me, especially by myself.”
Once mom and son went home, Rodney decided she wanted to make sure other Black and brown women had the support they need. So, she founded MOMCares in Baltimore. A practicing doula, Rodney and MOMCares are joining Howard County in its efforts with the PEACH project, something from which she said she could have benefited.
“The PEACE project will form a streamlined process for our community members to access prenatal postpartum and infant resources in the county,” Howard County Health Officer Dr. Maura Rossman said.
| LINK: Maternal health information from the Howard County Health Department
The $1.7 million investment will help expand maternal and child health programs.
The U.S. has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality among high-income countries, and rates have been increasing, including in Maryland, officials said. In 2021, Howard County’s preterm birth rate rose to 11%, according to the March of Dimes, which was higher than many neighboring jurisdictions and with significant racial disparities, especially among Black women.
“Hispanic mothers in Howard County are four times more likely to receive insufficient prenatal care as white mothers, putting their health and the health of their babies at risk,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “The preterm birth rate for Black women is 43% higher than all other women.”
PEACE connects clients with:
- Pregnancy resources
- Home visiting referral
- Locating a provider/specialist
- WIC referral
- Parenting support resources
- Emotional/mental health resources
- Links to community resources
- Assistance locating child care
- Childbirth/parenting education
- Teen parenting support referral
- Insurance eligibility
- Pregnancy options counseling
- Pregnancy loss support
Contact PEACE
- Speak with a perinatal care navigator: 410-313-7540
- Email: askhealth@howardcountymd.gov
- If you are in crisis, call the National Maternal Health Hotline at 833-9-HELP4MOMS
| VIDEO BELOW: Pregnancy program offers resources for new moms
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