Mayor Adams: NYC Doula Initiative Unaffected by Medicaid Cuts, Expansion Planned

NYC Doula Initiative Amid Medicaid Concerns

• Mayor Adams assures New Yorkers that the citywide doula initiative will not be impacted by potential Medicaid cuts.
• The program, started three years ago, aims to improve maternal health outcomes for Black and Hispanic women.

Program Success and Expansion

• The initiative, launched in 2022, has expanded access to doula services in disinvested neighborhoods.
• Studies show Black women face significantly higher risks of death from pregnancy complications compared to white, non-Hispanic women.
• 🎯 Notably, there have been no pregnancy-associated deaths among program participants since its inception.
• Last year, the program exceeded its goal of serving 1,000 expecting mothers, with an overall 25% increase in doula coverage.

Support for Participants

• The city is ensuring that women interested in the program receive intake, triage, and support, even if there's a longer wait for a doula.
• 🏠 A center in East Harlem offers a lactation room open to all and a private space for homeless clients to meet with their doulas.

Empowered Births and Safer Outcomes

• Doulas provide guidance and support, as exemplified by Teresa Lazbury Peters assisting a client with a natural birth.
• ✨ The program emphasizes that empowered births lead to safer outcomes for birthing individuals.