Family Village staff collaborate across sectors to expand opportunities, connect families to vital resources, and bridge gaps in care. We participate in many local, regional, and state coalitions aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes. Most importantly, our close, trusting relationships with Family Village participants—and our belief that they are the experts on their own lives—have been central to shaping and guiding our advocacy to better meet their needs.
Thanks to our advocacy efforts and those of many partners:
- Delaware County established the Delaware County Health Department in 2022. Delaware County was previously the only major county in the nation without its own public health department and missed out on state funding and direct services as a result.
- Pennsylvania is now the 13th state to offer Medicaid coverage for doula services, expanding access to physical and emotional support throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Our initiatives
HOPE Delaware County Rental Housing Coalition
The Delaware County Rental Housing Coalition is a partnership between the Housing Opportunities Program for Equity (HOPE) and dozens of other traditional and non-traditional housing advocates and lived experience experts who have joined together to address barriers to rental housing. We are pleased that more than 40 landlords have joined the Coalition. Together, members of the Coalition aim to advance an eviction diversion program, expand education opportunities for tenants, landlords, and municipalities, and advocate for ordinances and zoning reforms that increase rental housing supply—making it easier and more attractive for municipalities to support diverse housing options. To learn more or get involved, please contact HOPE Director Jordan Casey, at jcasey@delcofamilyvillage.org.
Chester Community Consortium
The Chester Community Consortium brings together people and organizations to improve access to quality clinical care, social support, and education in our community. Consortium partners include parents, community-based organizations, healthcare partners, county systems, regional policy organizations, and state-level partners.
The Consortium was established in 2015 as Baby’s 1st Project, with a mission to “create strong partnerships, working systemically and grounded in data and community input, to strengthen health and social services, advance health equity, and improve pregnancy and birth outcomes for Black and African-American women, babies, and families in Delaware County.” Over the past 10 years, the Consortium members have put together a Perinatal Periods of Risk study; completed and revised a strategic plan; and implemented parent leadership, housing stability, perinatal workforce development, and breastfeeding support activities.
The Consortium’s current strategic priorities are: promoting doula care, increasing WIC participation and access to nutritious foods, increasing access to mental health services for all family members; supporting fathers, and promoting entrepreneurship and workforce development.
To learn more or get involved, please contact Consortium Coordinator Denise Martin, dmartin@delcofamilyvillage.org.