Kathryn Hall - The Birthing Project USA, The Underground Railroad for New Life

In the News
Read about the Birthing Project,

The Birthing Project now has three e-mail based groups that will allow members, staff, participants and supporters to connect from any location! JOIN IN!

"When I found out I was pregnant I didn't know if I would have the baby because I was by myself." - Shamyra Age 16

"Now, I've grown up in the Birthing Project and I am a capable, loving, working mother." - Shamyra Age 22

Birthing Project Models

Birthing Project Sister Friends

Reducing Infant Mortality

Sister Friend Managers Jackson, Mississippi

Birthing Project Sister Friends is an extended family model with each volunteer (Sister Friend) responsible for a pregnant woman. The pregnant women range in age from 12 to 44 years old and in situations from married and employed but without the benefit of health insurance to unmarried with risk factors such as chronic disease, substance abuse and/or lack of basic resources (housing, etc.). The Sister Friends represent a cross section of personal and professional interest including health care, social services, the arts, community education and advocacy.

The project allows women who understand and are able to function in bureaucracies, to be a link between women who need services and those who endeavor to provide them. Women who are too intimidated by education, protocol and chrome to look a doctor in the eyes and express their pain, concerns and hopes are encouraged to speak their minds. It encourages understanding from providers who tend to think that these women are too stupid, too poor or are too unmotivated to bring a child into the world.

It is the new Underground Railroad which is empowering women to take control of their lives. It is a model well worth replicating in other cities because it is cost effective (it uses volunteers), it works and it makes both providers and communities accountable for the health and well-being of our children. The Birthing Project utilizes the inherent strengths of the Black community such as the extended family, the wise woman or "big mamma" concept, creative visualization and community wisdom. It facilitates good health education information into the community pipeline and it is heart felt.

Our project is based on the premise that the Black community has the strength and ability to grow healthy babies. We are constantly identifying, acknowledging and affirming the beliefs, language and culture which enables us to survive in America. For example, the concept of community Sister Friends rests on the foundations of "each one, teach one" and "the extended family".

The Birthing Project attempts to heal the sometime disheartened spirit of our community by reminding ourselves that the babies are all of our babies and we must reclaim and celebrate each life as if it is as precious as it was when new life was all we had. We do this by consciously using language which affirms our existence and intent. Each woman claims one pregnant teen or woman as her sister, thus enabling every woman to have a Sister Friend and every child to have an aunt, a good witch or a necessary bitch (when necessary). The Sister Friend makes sure her sister has prenatal care, "sits" with her in labor, helps "catch" her baby, "witnesses" the birth and "welcomes" the child into the world.

Witnessing the birth of a child means that the person has the responsibility and the right to speak to and on the behalf of that person - forever. Welcoming the child into the world is a special responsibility. So many of our babies are born into environments hostile to their birth and are greeted not with smiles and affirmation but coldness and accusations. Our Birthing Project babies are not only warmly received but asked, "Are you the one?"

Our model encourages defining and ritualizing the role of the family and its role in the community, as well as recording the events and milestones that celebrate the importance of human life. We host baby showers, birthday parties and gatherings. We take advantage of any and all opportunities to affirm and reflect ourselves back to each other in a beautiful way.

The original freedom trains led women from physical slavery. The Birthing Project helps women identify and use the resources necessary to care for themselves and their families. It also helps them remember that they are a part of a community that cares for them. The beginning point is pregnancy. The final stop is a healthy one year old child and the ability to care for that child in terms of providing a source of income, housing, support system and other factors involved in maintaining optimum health status. We love the idea of saving our own lives, advocating for our own children and being our sister's sister.

Nationally, the incidence of African American Infant Mortality is alarming. In plain language, more Black babies die trying to be born or during their first year of life than do other babies. In this country, the preventable death or disability of any child is totally unacceptable. We have a wealth of knowledge and resources. Often the problem is connecting the person who needs something with what is needed. Black babies are more likely to die or be born unhealthy simply because their mothers do not/cannot connect with the things they need for survival. There is usually not a guide or a conductor to point out the way, offer support or even to give a letter of introduction.

The Plan

Community Involvement

The goal of The Birthing Project is to keep more babies alive by recruiting, training and supporting community volunteers to provide direction, emotional support and education to their mothers. This support continues for one year after the birth of the babies.

The Process

Care Coordination, Support and Advocacy

Each pregnant woman receives individual care coordination and support. This includes identifying and coordinating services offered by agencies such as the health department, criminal justice, children's protective services and social services. It also involves attending child birth preparation and parenting classes and being a birth partner, if appropriate. During pregnancy, the primary focus is on obtaining, understanding, and complying with prenatal care, development of resources necessary to maintain health and the prevention of unplanned pregnancies.

Project participation continues through the child's first birthday. During this year the community Sister Friend supports her extended family in obtaining the parenting and life survival skills, such as finding resources (housing, transportation, child care, drug rehabilitation) and using them; identifying and pursuing educational and employment goals; and understanding that she is a part of a community which values her as an important member.

The Outcome

Over 10,000 babies born into Birthing Project communities

The Birthing Project SisterFriends model has received national and local recognition and has been replicated in over 70 other communities including Canada and Honduras. Our babies are born as healthy as possible to parents who are prepared to care for them. Their daddies are the employed, involved fathers they want to be for their children. Our teens are choosing to purse their education goals and dreams. The collective vision and spirit of our communities have allowed us to continue to do the work with the creativity, commitment, humor and love that has brought us this far.

More Model Programs "Academy of Dreams"

More Model Programs "Beauty Salon"

More Model Programs "The BarberShop"

More Model Programs "BP Clinic"