Childcare Program Evaluation Report

Introduction

In response to an identified need for childcare during the prenatal period through the first year postpartum to improve Black maternal health and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, the Maternal Health Equity Collaborative (MHEC) initiated perinatal childcare services. MHEC received initial funding through Safe Childbirth Cities, $999,461 from Merck for Mothers and Pritzker Children's Initiative for the Closing the Gaps for Black Mamas: Childcare for Health Equity Project (the Project) with fiscal sponsorship from the Austin Community Foundation. The funding commenced on April 1, 2021, and will conclude in January 2025. This Project combines doula and childcare services to Black parents in Austin and surrounding communities with the goal of coordination and delivery of perinatal childcare services from conception, birth, and one year postpartum to improve Black maternal health and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.

The funding included the suggestion that the project engage an evaluation partner. To this end, MHEC has contracted with Susan Wolfe and Associates, LLC, in partnership with the Institute of Development, to conduct this evaluation collaboratively. This report provides a literature review that supports the need and rationale for the combined services and the results of the process and outcome evaluation.