NORTHERN MANHATTAN PERINATAL PARTNERSHIP INC

Mobilizes community stakeholders monthly through the Harlem Community Health Network to address health disparities and prevent infant mortality. Played a key role in reducing Central Harlem’s infant mortality rate from 27.7 to 7.0 per 1,000 live births between 1990 and 2004 and secured over $100 million in city and state funding for high-need neighborhoods between 2001 and 2014.

Co-develops and implements Community Health Worker (CHW)-led programs for children with special health care needs, including those with hearing loss and poorly controlled asthma. CHWs are directly employed by NMPP and have achieved measurable outcomes such as 76% reduction in hospitalizations and 68% reduction in ED visits among asthmatic children, while connecting caregivers to social services and reducing caregiver distress.

Partners with pediatric clinics such as PECD at Columbia University Medical Center to screen families for psychosocial determinants of health during well-child visits and connect them to needed resources, promoting holistic family well-being.

Launched the Maternal Action Network Telehealth Project in collaboration with New York Presbyterian Hospital and University at Albany SUNY to improve telehealth access and utilization among women of color in Northern Manhattan.

Provides free professional doula services to pregnant residents, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and predominantly Black and brown mothers in Harlem. Includes three prenatal and four postpartum in-person visits, on-call support starting three weeks before due date, backup coverage during labor, and connections to birth doulas and postpartum care.

Offers open-access lactation lounge services during weekday hours (9:30 AM–4:30 PM) to any breastfeeding mother in the service area, regardless of program enrollment, and provides weekly one-on-one breastfeeding support through a dedicated maternal nurse.

Provides clinical care coordination, one-on-one nutrition counseling with a registered dietician, and nurse-midwife services for high-risk, pregnant, and preconception women. Supports women with chronic illnesses through the Maternal Intentions project and connects them to timely follow-up care.

Hosts annual and seasonal community events such as Health Awareness Day and Father's Day celebrations, and distributes baby gear, household items, and backpacks to families in need through partnerships like the Good+ Foundation.

Operates a home- and center-based Head Start program serving 200 children ages 3 to 5 annually in Washington Heights with a five-day, full-day early childhood education curriculum. Provides educational enrichment for toddlers and preschoolers, supports school readiness, and serves 165 children in the Head Start Program as part of maternal and child health services.

Engages fathers through the Fathers Forward Program, offering weekly workshops on parenting, men's health, financial literacy, job readiness, and personal development. Provides one-on-one support, legal information sessions, and wellness exercises to promote active father involvement in children’s lives.

Hosts fieldwork placements for undergraduate and graduate students in Social Work and Public Health, providing hands-on learning opportunities in community-based maternal and child health programming.

Operates a toll-free helpline and deploys community health workers to assist New Yorkers in understanding and enrolling in health insurance plans including Medicaid, Medicare, Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, and commercial plans. Helps resolve billing disputes, appeals, and complaints, and supports uninsured individuals in accessing free or low-cost care. Also provides weekly enrollment support for SNAP and health insurance in partnership with Morris Heights Health Center.

Provides intensive home visiting services to expectant and new parents, including reproductive life planning, case management, safe sleep education, birth support, domestic violence support, and escorted access to medical and social services. Conducts over 1,500 home visits annually in Central Harlem and Northern Manhattan through programs like BABY STEPS and Greater Harlem Healthy Start.

Provides referrals and access to mental and behavioral health services for children and families needing follow-up care. Offers trauma screening, assessment, and therapy services for women with young children in partnership with the Family Peace Center.

Provides nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snacks to enrolled children in the Head Start program and serves approximately 86,935 meals annually to children and families across programs.

Participated in the New York State Taskforce on Maternal Mortality and Disparate Racial Outcomes in 2018 and hosted listening sessions for the NYS Health Commissioner and NYC Department of Health to gather community input on adverse birth outcomes, contributing to policy development and systemic change.

Played an instrumental role in the creation of the Birth Center of Harlem Hospital, advocating for improved institutional capacity to serve birthing people in underserved communities.

Co-launched NY CHAMP, a multi-year NIH-funded research project, in collaboration with Columbia University, NYP Hospital, Weill Cornell, and community organizations to advance understanding and interventions in maternal and child health.