With a single phone call, pregnant and newborn families in Kalamazoo County can connect to crucial services and resources to bolster health and reduce infant mortality, reports Cradle Kalamazoo.
The new community phone number, 269-888-KIDS, was launched Feb. 15 by Cradle Kalamazoo, a multi-agency community initiative led by the YWCA Kalamazoo.
“Based on the needs of the community, we know that pregnant women of color and low-income women are falling through the cracks. 888-KIDS can help close this gap," says Grace Lubwama, CEO of YWCA Kalamazoo.
“Whether you’re pregnant or you’re the best friend, family member or coworker of someone who is pregnant, you can call 888-KIDS to help them get connected to services and resources,” Lubwama says. “We can support the health of our babies by making sure their families have access to the resources they need.”
Cradle Kalamazoo will serve as a hub that will coordinate care, track data, and provide feedback with the goal of improving birth and maternal and infant outcomes – especially for Black babies and their families in Kalamazoo. It consists of interested parties from the community and 30 partner organizations. United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, Gryphon Place and Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) are partnering together to provide 269-888-KIDS to the community.
When community members call 269-888-KIDS, they will be connected to a Family Support Specialist at Gryphon Place. The Family Support Specialist will help connect community members to resources and Cradle Kalamazoo partners. Cradle Kalamazoo partners have programs that support families both inside and outside the home.
”Partnership drives community change, and that’s why United Way is proud to be part of this collaboration,” says Alyssa Stewart, Director of Strategy & Engagement for United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region. “The new hotline will improve equitable access to services and support, and most importantly, assure better health for more babies and families in Kalamazoo County.”
The partners working with Cradle Kalamazoo can be
found here.
Source: Cradle Kalamazoo
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