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“Moms who’ve had masters level degrees in our program find
it very beneficial,” she continued, “especially when we get
them the information that they’re just as at risk in comparison
with white mothers with no high school diploma.”
The people at Solano HEALS provide the education that new mothers
need to make healthier lifestyle choices, in addition to addressing the
broader social determinants of health that the organization is trying
to change. Each aspect is designed to give every baby and family the
resources, support, and environment they deserve at the start of life.

According to the CDC, approximately 700 women die each
year in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery
complications, with 47.2% of them being black/African American.
Most of these complications develop during pregnancy, and
most are preventable or treatable, stressed Ms. Anderson.
“In 2020 you wouldn’t think that’d still be an issue,
but it’s still very much an issue,” she said.

Solano Heals helps women advocate for themselves with health
care providers by partnering with Kaiser and La Clinica de
la Raza to provide group prenatal care for African American
women where they can discuss their health and well-being
throughout pregnancy in a nurturing environment.
In addition, Touro University California (TUC) has partnered
with Solano HEALS to provide Race Equity Training to
health care providers in Solano County to help unpack how to
Giving Babies and Mothers approach matters like implicit bias, which have had a historic
impact on the black community that is still felt today.
Another objective to address these inequities is an online toolkit
the Best Possible Start for community members that aims to de-stigmatize mental
health in the black community and provide local resources for
mental health support and services. TUC was also able to help
secure a grant for Solano HEALS to extend its reach online with
haunte Crockett remembers how alone she felt in 2018, as a soon-to-be single the creation of a mental health toolkit. As part of the effort to
normalize the conversation around mental health, the site will
mom. When she was six months pregnant with her life about to dramatically
provide visitors a mental health screening as well as a platform for GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
change, a colleague recommended that she visit Solano Heals, an multipronged mothers to share their stories and hear from people in the same
coalition supported by Solano Public Health with the mission to promote equity shoes, much like with Ms. Crockett and her mothers’ group. Transform Lives
Cin healthy births for black babies and their families in Solano County. “Women who experience untreated mental health issues such
as depression and anxiety during pregnancy are at greater risk
After sharing her story with someone in the program, after I had my baby, we would do home visits to follow up.” of having a preterm delivery or delivering a low birth weight through the Power
she met other soon-to-be mothers in a discussion After she had her son, she and the other mothers continued baby” explained Dr. Carly Strouse, Assistant Professor of
group. The highway patrol dispatcher soon found to meet on their own for walks on the Vallejo waterfront Public Health at TUC. “This can have negative impacts on the of Education
that many were working moms like herself, running and birthday parties, even open mic nights. Her time in developing child with a risk of poor mother-infant attachment
12 hour shifts from morning to evening. as well as long term emotional dysregulation for their child.”
the program had helped her build a community, and her • Flexible • Innovative • Affordable
“Everybody came from a different perspective and had son has friends to grow up with straight from the womb. Preventing these effects means addressing the cultural
their own insight into my situation,” she said, “and there “I saw her just sprout up and become a better mother biases that prevent many African Americans from accessing Teaching Credentials and
were others who had gone through it before me.” care due to things like prior experience with misdiagnosis,
and stronger woman, so the support and encouragement Masters Programs offered.
The discussion group provided her a therapeutic in this program is awesome,” Crockett’s mother inadequate treatment, or lack of cultural awareness.
space where Crockett received useful information, added. “I’ve never seen her happier than this.” “We’re trying to de-stigmatize support and mental Take your next step.
such as helpful breastfeeding tips, and played games “We’re not a cookie cutter program, explained Angelique health services,” she said. “The important thing is that
with the group based on what they had learned. (mothers are) being seen and followed so if anything
Anderson, social worker at Solano HEALS. “Most people
“Whenever you needed something, whether it was a good or a think (black infant health) outcomes have to do with happens, they’re already connected to a provider.” tu.edu/gsoe
bad day, the staff was always available by phone or text,” Ms. socioeconomic status, but it’s not that at all. The toxic stress If you are interested in joining the Solano HEALS coalition or their
Crockett remembers. “I had to reach out to them a lot, and levels are very unique to being a black mother in America. resources and training, visit solheals.wixsite.com/solanoheals.

40 Feb/Mar www.localhappeningsmagazine.com