National Center News
National Center News
Group connection:
My birthing story
As part of its comprehensive package of services, St. Louis-based Parents as Teachers’ affiliate Show Me Strong Families (SMSF) works to lower the incidence of prematurity and maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. The affiliates support Black women’s pregnancy through doula services, in addition to enrollment in the Parents as Teachers model.
Last year, some mothers and their babies enrolled in the SMSF program gathered in a group connection to share their birth stories and experiences working with doulas during their pregnancies. QuikTrip generously provided gifts for the families.
SMSF’s five doulas work to help reduce morbidity numbers amongst clients enrolled in the program. Parent educators are cross-trained as doulas to provide an extra level of education to families they already know and support through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. The effectiveness of Parents as Teachers’ doula services was spotlighted in several national print and television news outlets including the New York Times, CNN, NBC, and CNBC.
Life experiences shared at Women’s Engagement Café
The Parents as Teachers National Center hosted its third Women’s Engagement Café which brought together a wide spectrum of women who support the mission, and mothers served by the organization. They convened over dinner and participated in a life-sharing exercise to explore their paths toward success and the challenges of motherhood.
City of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones joined President and CEO Constance Gully to welcome about 30 women and their children enrolled in Parents as Teachers National Center’s Show Me Strong Families affiliate to the Café at The Heights Recreational Center.
Life experiences shared at Women’s Engagement Café
The Parents as Teachers National Center hosted its third Women’s Engagement Café which brought together a wide spectrum of women who support the mission, and mothers served by the organization. They convened over dinner and participated in a life-sharing exercise to explore their paths toward success and the challenges of motherhood.
City of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones joined President and CEO Constance Gully to welcome about 30 women and their children enrolled in Parents as Teachers National Center’s Show Me Strong Families affiliate to the Café at The Heights Recreational Center.