Initiative

Sistas Caring 4 Sistas

Sistas Caring 4 Sistas (SC4S) is a community-based doula program committed to birth equity, social justice, and reducing health disparities for women and infants of color and was founded in November 2016. At that time, babies born to women of color in Buncombe County were three times more likely to die in the first year of life than white babies. When the founders learned that having doula support could help reverse this trend, they were pursued doula trainings offered through local DONA Doula Trainers.

In an effort to support our community with a holistic approach to maternal heath inequities / disparities, each Certified Doula has successfully pursued additional trainings in Childbirth Education, Lactation Education, Triple P Parenting Education, Extended postpartum (after-birth care), as well as Peer Support Certification for women who have mental health and/or substance use challenges.

Contact information:

Home Pathways Action Map Sistas Caring 4 Sistas

Fast Facts

Relevant Actions Action 3.10, Action 3.15, Action 4.10
State or Local?

Local
Counties

Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Guilford, Henderson, Mecklenburg
Lead Agency

Sistas Caring 4 Sistas
Type of Agency

Community/Family-Led Group
Racial Equity Lens
  • Birth doulas support pregnant people during the perinatal period. Evidence of doulas’ positive impacts on pregnancy and birth outcomes, particularly among underserved populations, supports expanding doula organizations to move the field toward better serving the specific needs of underserved populations. It recognizes the expertise of CBOs in developing policy to expand doula services to communities in need. SC4S highlights the complexities of facilitating consistency across doula training and certification requirements and implementing a sustainable funding mechanism while also meeting communities’ unique needs.
Impact
  • Sistas Caring 4 Sistas is just that: Sistas who co-create safe spaces and assist birthing individuals in empowering themselves by creating support centered care that is targeted towards increasing positive birth experiences and outcomes that promote healthy families driving community connections.
Next Steps
  • Increase capacity with more funding
  • Push for policy change through Medicaid reimbursement
  • Identify racism as a public health crisis that impacts all community members
Primary Partners
  • Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)
  • Nurse Family Partnerships
  • YWCA
Contact

Cindy McMillan

Active Counties