Creator(s): Rebecca Rokne, Josephine Tracy, Destiny Harden, Kiana Lloyd, Alexandra Kane
Course: PPUA6509 Techniques of Program Evaluation
Program Evaluation: The co-founder and executive director of Love Your Menses, Dr. Ebere Azumah and Asriel Walker, wants to understand both the strengths and weaknesses that have occurred in the first year of the Postpartum and Education Support group that initially began in the Spring of 2022. Currently, the program has had two cohorts so far, one in the Spring and in the Fall that served about twenty two participants. Those participants could interact with various components of the program through educational resources, speaker series, sister circles and care packages in eight sessions over sixteen weeks. The Postpartum Education and Support Group program is intended to serve Black and Brown identifying women who are pregnant or have recently given birth in the Boston area. Currently, in the United States Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications or suffer from severe disabilities after childbirth compared to White women. This support group hopes to help advocate for maternal health issues through increasing postpartum education, bringing in various health professionals and allowing the support group to be in a safe and supportive space. Birthing people who participate in this group can have their social and educational needs supported, which can be effective in their recovery process while dealing with psychological and physical stressors that are occurring in their postpartum period.