“Community of Hope was really welcoming and they gave me lots of good information. I haven’t needed to go anywhere else since coming to COH, it’s all here.” ~ Tameika
Tameika Price, a DC resident and Community of Hope patient found her voice this month as she shared about her pregnancy journey. She provided a testimonial video at the Mayor’s Maternal and Infant Health Summit.
Ms. Price became a COH patient in 2013 when she first moved to the District from Albany, Georgia. Initially, her experience started with routine medical check-ups for her first born, who was 2 years old at the time. The more she frequented the health center, the more comfortable she became, eventually leading her to become a patient herself and trust Community of Hope with her prenatal needs and care. “When I first came to Community of Hope, the place felt warm and the people were very nice,” she said. Participating in CenteringPregnancy® and parenting classes at COH allowed Ms. Price to meet other moms in the community and build friendships that would ultimately became her support system throughout her pregnancy and well into motherhood. She noted that the more she connected with other expecting women and shared her journey, the more empowered she felt to make sure more moms are aware of the resources available to them in the community.
Ms. Price also shared that the summit was a good experience. Occurring on September 12th, thousands of lawmakers, thought leaders, practitioners and most importantly, moms, gathered at the Walter E. Convention Center for Mayor Muriel Bowser’s first inaugural Maternal and Infant Health Summit. The event was created to bring awareness to maternal health issues faced by women in the District. The day was filled with sessions that addressed topics such as disparities in health outcomes, improving health preconception, and exploring ways to strengthen families and promote healthy environments. One panel discussion dissected trends in maternal and infant mortality, best practices in community health, and recommendations for healthcare and public policy at the federal, state, and local level to improve maternal and infant health. Our President and CEO, Kelly Sweeney McShane, contributed to the conversation with important considerations about the presence of stable housing in creating positive mom and baby health outcomes. The information shared at the summit was helpful for all in attendance, especially for moms like Tamika Price.
Tamika would like to see these kind of conversations extended to the whole family unit within the community. She would like to see more safe places where families can learn, communicate and inspire one another.
