New Initiative Promotes Maternal Health with Care Ring Support

As a single mother, Christaiua Williams was overwhelmed and scared when she was expecting her daughter. She knew that she needed all the support she could get to ensure her daughter’s wellbeing. That’s when she was connected with Anita Beatty, a nurse from Care Ring North Carolina’s Nurse-Family Partnership program.

Through her biweekly visits with Beatty, Williams received counseling and coaching, learning everything she needed to know for her daughter’s health. Beatty explains that her role is to support and provide education around health for mothers, teaching them how to advocate for what they need. With Beatty’s guidance, Williams felt more confident in her ability to care for her daughter and make informed decisions about her health.

Beatty has seen firsthand the disparities that exist in access to healthcare for Black women, who are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. She knows that structural racism plays a role in these statistics, which is why she continues her work through Care Ring. It’s humbling for her to be able to provide something that mothers are in need of, even if they don’t always know what they need.

Care Ring is aiming to expand the Nurse-Family Partnership program across the greater Charlotte area, providing support to mothers until their children are 2 years old. The program connects expectant mothers with a nurse who visits them at home before and after their baby arrives, providing valuable resources and guidance throughout their journey as new parents. With Care Ring’s help, more mothers will have access to the support they need to ensure their children’s healthy beginnings.