This month, our team at Family Village had the incredible opportunity to deepen our knowledge and strengthen our impact through the Birth Right: A Perinatal Risk Reduction Certificate Program. In collaboration with Kristin Motley and Health, Educated, Inc., our staff participated in a powerful, multi-disciplinary training focused on saving lives and improving outcomes for mothers and babies.
Throughout the training, our team learned directly from experts, professors, doulas, therapists, and other professionals working on the front lines of maternal health. Together, we explored how to better identify risks during pregnancy and postpartum—and how to serve as a critical first line of defense in preventing maternal and infant deaths.
Understanding the Crisis
The maternal and infant mortality crisis in Chester, Delaware County, and across Pennsylvania is staggering. For many families, the journey to welcoming a child is far more dangerous than it should be. This training reinforced the urgency of the issue and the need for immediate, informed action.
Through real stories—like the powerful account of one mother’s loss shared in the training—our staff gained a deeper understanding of how gaps in care, systemic inequities, and delayed responses can have devastating consequences.
Key Topics and Takeaways
The Birth Right program covered a wide range of critical topics that are essential to recognizing and reducing risk during the perinatal period. These included:
- Implicit bias and social determinants of health, and how they influence care and outcomes
- Serious medical conditions such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, pulmonary embolism, and peripartum cardiomyopathy
- Mental health challenges, including postpartum depression and anxiety
- Intimate partner violence and its impact on maternal and infant health
- Substance use disorders during pregnancy and the importance of compassionate, informed support
As highlighted in the training materials, recognizing early warning signs and understanding these interconnected risks can make a life-saving difference.
Turning Knowledge into Action
At Family Village, we are committed to being more than just a resource—we strive to be an active part of the solution. This training equips our team with the tools to better support expecting and new parents, identify warning signs earlier, and connect families to the care they need.
We are taking immediate, actionable steps to integrate what we’ve learned into our programs, outreach, and everyday interactions with families. By doing so, we aim to help reduce preventable deaths and ensure that every parent has the support they deserve.
Looking Ahead
This is just the beginning. Addressing the maternal and infant mortality crisis requires ongoing education, collaboration, and community engagement. We are proud to stand alongside partners like Health, Educated, Inc. in this work—and even more committed to continuing it.
Because every parent deserves a safe, supported journey—and every baby deserves a healthy start.
Speakers for the learning session.
Staff workshopping during the session.
Staff listening to a speaker.
Staff workshopping during a session.
Katie Kenyon and Dr. Kristin Motely