It Takes a Village Postpartum Program

It Takes a Village (ITAV) envisions a future of postpartum wellness and thriving families. To achieve this goal, its mission is to support Manchester families culturally, emotionally, and financially as they navigate their postpartum journey.

ITAV was born out of the Manchester Health Department, whose Health Equity Team identified the lack of structural support during the postpartum period as a main driver of maternal health disparities. The Maternal Health Working Group, tasked with developing the program, sought to increase social connectivity during the postpartum period.

The program provides a platform of empowerment for families postpartum, particularly women who experience discrimination in the doctor’s office. Facilitators work with participants on how to advocate for themselves, ask questions, and push back when their concerns aren’t being heard. On the structural side, the Maternal Health Working Group is also developing a Health Equity Training Series for providers, aiming to address systemic biases in healthcare.