We are proud to begin distributing over $310,000 in community-led investment to groups that are supporting Black moms and babies in St. Louis. This funding is part of FLOURISH’s Community Mobilization and Innovation (CMI) grant program, which is reserved for community groups and neighborhood organizations who are working to improve the lives of Black moms, babies, and families. The CMI-funded projects awarded in the ninth and final cohort of this grant include:
- Away From Home, Inc: A Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies project will help homeless single mothers and their children find permanent housing and educate them on infant mortality. Life skills will also be taught to help with independent living.
- Community of Hope: The purpose of the PACC – Parents & Community Connection project is to build a community support system of mentors, resources, and programs for young parents in need, providing them with the necessary tools to become self-sufficient, while also maintaining their emotional, mental, and physical health.
- Da Bruhz: A Black Fathers Matter Movement will increase paternal involvement in Black communities to help reduce the racial gap in the infant mortality rate by encouraging more Black males to be present with their children and families. The project will highlight strategies that support father engagement and involvement to improve children’s health outcomes.
- First Ladies Network: Connecting Families educates and provides support to pregnant and postpartum women in north and south St. Louis city and county through mentorship, raising awareness about health and wellness and addressing the stigma associated with mental health to build healthy families and address infant mortality.
- InPower Institute: Akoko Nació Doula+ Care project will provide wrap-around doula services, spiritual ceremonies, and healing circles to Black womxn and their families who have been traumatized, marginalized, and not treated with respect and sacredness in their birthing experience.
- Jacob’s Ladder Ministries: Project Shalom! will connect Black men and women impacted by the criminal justice system with resources, knowledge, and support, which will create healthier relationships, a higher quality of life for Black women, and a longer lifespan for Black babies.
- Jennings 4th Ward Strong: Be The Change provides resources, support and healing to Black parenting families in the Jennings community.
- Narcissistic Abuse Recovery Center: Making Mommie Moves is a program that educates and supports pregnant and new moms on their emotional, mental, physical, nutritional and financial health through virtual month-long cohorts.
- SkiWise: Allowing Families to Flourish through Behavioral Health Treatment (AFTF BTX) is a behavioral health treatment program for young moms, aged 16-26, who are pregnant or have infants and a diagnosed mental health disorder. This program will increase access and decrease the cultural barriers that prevent people from seeking treatment.
- Sweet Babies: The Giving Babies a Better Chance program will provide 100 safe sleep kits to moms in priority areas, connect them with training and community support, and help them during the first 12 months of their baby’s life, using supplies through the Sweet Babies program both in hospital settings and outreach locations.
- The Access Foundation: Project Safe Sleep will provide safe sleeping spaces for Black babies from low-income families.
- The African Doula Project: The African Doula Project will build a community committee to develop and lead a doula certification training program that recruits new caregivers with self-sustaining economic opportunities, while providing childbirth education through community outreach in north St. Louis.
- Unfailing Love Christian Church: Resources Around Mentally Prioritizing for Women (RAMP) program will provide easier access to mental health counseling for new and expecting mothers and those connected to their peer social group. The program will focus on building a community for support, healing, education, and resources, both pre- and post-natal.
Since 2019, FLOURISH has invested over $1.4 million in community-based projects to support Black pregnant and parenting families in St. Louis through the Community Mobilization and Innovation grant. We are excited to welcome the newest cohort into the FLOURISH network and support this on-the-ground work.