Approximately 99 percent of expectant mothers surveyed reported the Moms Connect for Life® program was valuable and improved knowledge to drive better programs.
Redwood City, Calif.—Wider Circle has introduced a peer-based community maternity program in Detroit to support expecting women through pregnancy into motherhood.
The Moms Connect for Life focuses on inclusion and support for pregnant women of Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds, who have historically experienced significant health inequalities and distrust of the health care system.
American Indian/Alaska Native and Black women are two to three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using a unique Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) model to remove barriers to accessing quality care, Wider Circle’s Moms Connect for Life program brings together expectant mothers in community-based groups focused on health navigation, peer support and health education.
SDoH are defined as the behaviors and conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play—such as housing, food insecurity, education, transportation, and loneliness—that affect a wide range of health and quality of life risks and outcomes. In addition, SDoH disproportionately affects seniors and lower-income communities both in the US and globally.
“Wider Circle was founded on a quest for health equity for our most vulnerable,” said Darin Buxbaum, CEO and co-founder of Wider Circle. “The Moms Connect for Life maternity care program extends Wider Circle’s community programs to help improve both physical and mental health for mothers throughout the continuum of pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care.”
Claude Pinnock, M.D., MPH, chief medical officer at the organization, said the program establishes trust between mothers in underserved areas and provides peer-based support to reduce low birth weight, preterm birth, and other adverse outcomes throughout pregnancy, “Ninety-five percent of mothers were engaged throughout Wider Circle’s maternity program, completed it, and 50 percent of those moms, with their newborns, are still engaged with us. It speaks volumes about the program.”
The Moms Connect for Life program is designed to increase access to care and support for mothers facing a variety of challenges including isolation, behavioral health challenges, social disadvantages, and homelessness. Upon completion of Wider Circle’s Detroit program, 100 percent of the participating mothers reported an understanding of the actions needed to support a healthy pregnancy. These areas of support include dietary and healthy eating habits, breastfeeding, exercise, elimination of harmful habits (alcohol consumption, smoking, drug use), emotional well-being, and resources for housing, transportation, and everyday necessities.
Eighty-eight percent of moms who participated in the program reported feeling supported throughout their pregnancies. Patrice Mckenzie, supported by Moms Connect for Life, said, "I am so grateful for Wider Circle. It is so nice to get support and talk to others going through the same thing as me."
About Wider Circle
Wider Circle works with health plans nationally to deliver unique community care programs that connect neighbors for better health. Centered on trusted relationships, Wider Circle connects health plan members with like-minded neighbors to inform, support and motivate one another, empowering them to be more proactive about their health. Wider Circle’s trusted delivery network has been proven to drive resilience, improve member experience and engagement, and reduce hospitalizations. Today, Wider Circle offers its unique neighborhood care programs to over 700 communities nationwide.