The Cavaliers Community Foundation and Monsters Community Foundation Distribute Nearly $500,000 to the 2025 Winter Grantee Award Winners
CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers Community Foundation (CCF) and Cleveland Monsters Community Foundation (CMF) recently announced the distribution of nearly $500,000 in grants to 18 local non-profits that support at-risk youth and community programming in Northeast Ohio.
In October 2024, the foundations pledged to award 30 grants to local youth-supporting organizations across Northeast Ohio to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Monsters. The 2025 Winter Grantee class had 12 nonprofits receive a $30,000 grant in celebration of the arena’s anniversary.
Since its inception, Cavaliers Community Foundation has invested over $26 million in organizations dedicated to youth development. These organizations are deeply committed to enhancing the lives of young people and families in the region focusing on education, food security, and wellness. Nonprofits like the ones granted are integral in the holistic development of youth in Northeast Ohio.
The Cavaliers Community Foundation Winter 2025 Grantees include: 1,000 Ties, A Special Wish Foundation of Northeast Ohio, Adaptive Sports Ohio, America's VetDogs, Birthing Beautiful Communities, Cleveland Peacemakers, Inc., Family Promise of Greater Cleveland, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, New Bridge Cleveland Center for Arts & Technology, Special Olympics Ohio, The Centers, Vision to Learn, WomenSafe, Inc. and Youth Opportunities Unlimited.
“The Cavaliers Community Foundation is proud to support our community partners with financial resources, ensuring they have the tools necessary to help Northeast Ohio youth succeed," said Pam Frasco, Executive Director of the Cavaliers Community Foundation. "We are committed to creating a lasting legacy of positive change by generating a ripple effect throughout our community."
The Monsters Community Foundation Winter 2025 Grantees include: ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland, America's VetDogs, Elyria Ice Hockey Club, LifeAct and United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Cleveland, Inc.
"The Monsters Community Foundation's mission is to invest in organizations that directly support the health and well-being of at-risk populations in Northeast Ohio while also providing access to hockey in our community," said Ben Adams, Cleveland Monsters Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "Each of the grantees awarded in this cycle support this in unique and direct ways, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them in the work of building a better community for our young people."
Grants are awarded bi-annually, following review by the Cavaliers and Monsters Community Foundation Board. The Cavaliers and Monsters will begin the Spring 2025 cycle in late winter. Those interested in being considered for a grant should submit a letter of intent by March 1, 2025. For more information on the Cavaliers Community Foundation, contact CCfoundation@cavs.com or find the application here.
For consideration by the Monsters Community Foundation, contact monsterscommunity@clevelandmonsters.com or find the application here.
Cavaliers and Monsters Community Foundation Winter 2025 Grant Recipients
1,000 Ties
1,000 Ties empowers youth and their families in high-poverty communities by teaching essential life skills that foster lifelong success. Through mentorship from community role models, young men ages 8-19 build the confidence to interview, network and break cycles of generational poverty. By involving and empowering the family members who support these young men, 1,000 Ties creates a foundation for sustainable growth and shared achievement—beginning with the simple, impactful gesture of tying a tie.
A Special Wish Foundation, Northeast Ohio
A Special Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children between birth and 20 years of age who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland
The ACE Mentor Program helps to prepare high school students for careers in architecture, engineering and construction. Through mentoring by industry professionals, the mission to engage and enlighten high school students is achieved and supports their continued advancement in the industry. The organization provides mentoring to students using various strategies to ensure they are engaged and succeed in ACE programs (architecture, engineering and construction).
Adaptive Sports Ohio
Adaptive Sports Ohio removes barriers to ensure that individuals with physical disabilities have a chance to play and utilize sport to elevate ability and empower futures. Founded in 2009, Adaptive Sports Ohio is now the largest organization offering adaptive sports opportunities within the state of Ohio.
America's VetDogs
VetDogs trains and places service dogs for those with physical disabilities; guide dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision; service dogs to help mitigate the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder; and facility dogs as part of the rehabilitation process in military and VA hospitals.
Birthing Beautiful Communities
Birthing Beautiful Communities' (BBC) mission is to address and improve the systemic and community structures that lead to poor birth outcomes through Culture, Education, Advocacy, Support and Engagement. BBC is Northeast Ohio’s only community-based doula program working to improve the quality of life for expectant Black mothers, babies and families.
Cleveland Peacemakers, Inc.
Cleveland Peacemakers Inc. (CPI) aims to save lives and create safer communities by working with young people at the highest risk of being involved in gun violence. CPI is a Community Violence Intervention (CVI) program that utilizes a public health approach to prevent and interrupt the cycle of retaliatory and conflict-based gun violence in the City of Cleveland and neighboring areas.
Elyria Ice Hockey Club
The Elyria Panthers Youth Hockey organization is dedicated to creating a lifelong love of hockey for players ages 3 and up. Since 1960, they’ve fostered a fun, supportive environment where young athletes develop skills, sportsmanship and teamwork, forging friendships that last a lifetime. The progressive programs cater to all skill levels and the "Learn to Skate and Play" program introduces 100+ beginners to hockey annually.
Family Promise of Greater Cleveland
Family Promise’s main purpose is to help the unhoused families it receives from Coordinated Intake to quickly find housing and a source of income; and to put them on the pathway to long-term stability. Its core services include Temporary Housing/Case Management, Employment Services and Community Stabilization Services.
LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
The LGBT Community Center is a community-led and equity-focused one-stop hub and sanctuary providing an array of services. The Center works to meet individual needs around health, food security, education and well-being while implementing systemic solutions. They aim to support Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ community through advocacy, support, education and celebration.
LifeAct
LifeAct's mission is to prevent young suicide through two main initiatives, the Suicide Prevention (SP) and Stress Management (SM) classroom programs. The 2-session SP program teaches Grades 6-12 students that at-risk behaviors are often the result of treatable medical conditions, how to overcome the stigma surrounding mental health issues and where to find help for themselves, friends or family members. Students who ask a LifeAct instructor for assistance are connected to school-based resources (counselor, psychologist, staff designee) to determine the best course of action.
New Bridge Cleveland Center for Arts & Technology
Since 2010, New Bridge has touched the lives of more than 4,000 youth and adults throughout Greater Cleveland using a combination of workforce skills training and job placement services for adults, professional development and classroom training for youth and adults and social-emotional learning and personal development programming for youth to create equal access to opportunity.
Special Olympics Ohio
Special Olympics Ohio provides a lifetime of opportunities to athletes of all ages, at no cost to them, through the transformative power of sport. Special Olympics Ohio encompasses the power and joy of sport for athletes to connect with and contribute to their communities – all while improving their physical fitness, leadership skills and sense of wellbeing.
The Centers
The Centers/Cleveland Christian Home provides residential treatment for youth who are facing severe emotional and behavioral disturbances, and short-term housing for youth awaiting a placement in foster care. The Centers provides services for approximately 20,000 people annually in four primary areas: Integrated Health and Wellness, Head Start Early Learning & Family Support, Workforce Development and Youth Residential Services.
United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Cleveland, Inc.
UCP of Greater Cleveland serves over 1,500 children and adults every year. While the agency initially served only children with cerebral palsy, we are now a network of support for people with a wide spectrum of disabilities including but not limited to, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, genetic disorders, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, among others.
Vision to Learn
Vision To Learn provides vision screenings, eye exams and glasses to children in low-income communities, at no cost, at their schools and community organizations with mobile vision clinics.
WomenSafe, Inc.
WomenSafe looks to provide emergency shelter and support services to survivors of domestic violence throughout Northeast Ohio. WomenSafe’s trauma-informed programming fosters healing and self-sufficiency, with an overarching goal to end the cycle of violence within families. WomenSafe offers the following free, confidential services: 24-hour Crisis Hotline, Emergency Shelter, Art Therapy, Counseling, Empowered Parenting Program, Housing and Employment Coordination, Court Advocacy, In-Kind Donations, Aftercare and Domestic Violence Education.
Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) was founded in December 1982 as a nonprofit to provide Cleveland teens with their first paid summer job. To meet the growing and evolving needs of the community, namely high youth unemployment rates and employer-identified skills gaps in young workers, Y.O.U. has evolved and expanded. For over 40 years, Y.O.U. has provided a range of education and workforce programs to young people ages 14-24 in Northeast Ohio who live in economically distressed communities.
You're Invited! Free Opening Night Fri. January 24, 2025 Winter/Spring Opening Night Celebration
Birthing Beautiful Communities
Dear
Free Opening Night Fri. January 24, 2025
Winter/Spring Opening Night Celebration
Free and open to all
Friday, January 24, 2025, from 6-9 PM
Exhibitions runs January 24-June 1, 2025
Dear is a heartfelt tribute to the strength, resilience, and beauty of Black motherhood and the community that
supports it. This multi-sensory exhibition offers a comprehensive exploration of the work of Birthing Beautiful
Communities, highlighting the significance of care and affirmation. The title, Dear, represents both a term of
endearment and a symbol of the village that uplifts Black motherhood. Dear is an ode to the power of community
and the enduring bond of motherhood.
On the exhibition, Jazmin Long, MSSA/MNO, President & CEO, Birthing Beautiful Communities, adds:
"Dear is a love letter to Black mothers and women everywhere, celebrating the families we create and the simple
joys that emerge when surrounded by the love of a village. Birthing Beautiful Communities is proud to reflect this
village, providing culturally centered care that empowers Black mothers on their journeys of joy, healing, and
transformation. We are excited to partner with the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland to bring this
powerful exhibit to life, honoring the vital role of families, friends, and communities in uplifting Black mothers.”
Megan Reich, Kohl Executive Director, moCa Cleveland, adds: "Through exhibitions that explore transformation, natural agency, and the power of care, moCa Cleveland
reaffirms its role as a vital space for connection and discovery through art. These projects exemplify our
dedication to supporting artists who pursue the whys of our shared humanity and push the boundaries of
artistic practice and excellence."
Generous support provided by The George Gund Foundation.
Exhibition creation & design: shark & minnow
Photography: Dana McKinney, shark & minnow
Videography: Ashwin Gokhale, shark & minnow
About Birthing Beautiful Communities
Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing and eliminating racial
disparities in maternal and infant health. Founded in 2014, BBC provides culturally competent, community-based
perinatal support services to families in Northeast Ohio. Through doula services, mental health support, and
childbirth education, BBC empowers mothers, strengthens families, and improves birth outcomes. With a focus
on advocacy, education, and holistic care, BBC has served over 2,000 mothers, babies, and families and trained
over 200 women to become doulas. Additionally, BBC has consistently maintained a 91% full-term birth rate and
an 83% breastfeeding initiation rate among program participants. BBC is building a state-of-the-art
freestanding birth center to further its mission of creating equitable, nurturing spaces where mothers and
babies thrive. To learn more, visit www.birthingbeautiful.org.
Photo: shark&minnow
Admission & Hours
Daily Admission at moCa Cleveland is free for those living in Ohio and for youth 18 years old and under.
$10 admission for adults living outside of Ohio.
Museum Hours
(NEW HOURS)Thursday & Friday, 1PM-8PM
Saturday & Sunday, 11AM-5PM
Holiday hours available at mocacleveland.org
About moCa Cleveland
moCa Cleveland is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of contemporary art while serving as a cultural hub for
the community. Our mission is Art Now, In Progress which focuses on growing and achieving with forward
momentum while always developing and striving to ignite creativity. With rotating exhibitions, educational
programs, and public events, moCa remains a pillar of artistic innovation and engagement in the Midwest.
Since its founding in 1968, moCa has presented the works of more than three thousand artists, often through
artists’ first solo shows. Soon after its founding, moCa was the first in the region to exhibit the works of man
vanguard artists such as Laurie Anderson, Christo, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Adrian Piper, and Andy
Warhol. Recent artist commissions and solo exhibitions include work by Tauba Auerbach, Simon Denny,
Aleksandra Domanović, Michelle Grabner, Byron Kim, Ragnar Kjartansson, Tony Lewis, Kirk Mangus, Catherine
Opie, Adam Pendleton, Sondra Perry, Joyce J. Scott, Do Ho Suh, Liu Wei, Renée Green, and Nina Chanel Abney,
among many others.
2025 Institutional Sponsors
Leadership donors supporting moCa's mission include gifts to the Art Now Fund: Anonymous, Yuval Brisker,
Joanne Cohen & Morris Wheeler, Margaret Cohen & Kevin Rahilly, Dealer Tire, Char & Chuck Fowler, Agnes Gund,
Jan Lewis, Roy Minoff, and The Sunday Painter; the Connecting Audiences Fund: Dick & Doreen Cahoon, The
Callahan Foundation, Connor Foundation, The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation, the George Gund
Foundation, the Leonard Krieger Fund of the Cleveland Foundation, Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel
Foundation, PNC, the Nord Family Foundation, and Nicholas & Erin Reif; and the Sustaining Pathways Fund: The
Callahan Foundation, Grosvie & Charlie Cooley, Becky Dunn, Harriet Goldberg, Google.org, Karen & Eric
Hillenbrand, the John P. Murphy Foundation, and Boake Sells.
moCa Cleveland also receives lead institutional support in part from the residents of Cuyahoga County through
a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the National
Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and the continuing support of the museum’s Board of Directors,
patrons, and members.
Is Starbucks’ ‘pink drink’ good for breastfeeding moms? Lactation specialists fight this and other breastmilk myths with facts
Is Starbucks’ ‘pink drink’ good for breastfeeding moms? Lactation specialists fight this and other breastmilk myths with facts
CLEVELAND, Ohio — From the time a woman announces her pregnancy, she’s bombarded with advice about breastfeeding. Most of it is a load of hooey.
Tik Tok will tell her to slurp the “pink drink” at Starbucks and eat lactation cookies to make breastfeeding easier. Others will tell her not to bother, since she’s returning to work right after the birth, and it will just ruin her figure.
Confusing messages about who can breastfeed, why nipples hurt, what to consume and whether to give up prescription medications are why so many women give up and go straight to formula, said Dr. Carly Dulabon, director of the division of breastfeeding medicine at Akron Children’s Hospital.
“They hear so much that they chose not to even try, or stop early because of fear and anxiety regarding it,” Dulabon said.
Yet some women may be unable to breastfeed, or may choose not to, and that’s OK, Dulabon said. “The most important thing is that a family receives the support that they need and deserve for whatever choice is best for their family,” she said.
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Breast milk shares antibodies from the mother with her baby, protecting infants from illness and strengthening their immune system. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome, the CDC said.
Breastfeeding also lowers the risk of infant mortality.
A 2023 study, conducted in collaboration with the CDC, suggests that breastfeeding may reduce a baby’s risk of dying in their first year of life by about 33%.
Despite the benefits, a federal 2022 Breastfeeding Report Card showed that while 83% of American infants started life with breast milk, by the time they were 6 months old, the rate dropped to 25%.
Overall, breastfeeding rates increased from 2007 to 2022, the report card said.
Rates of breastfeeding among Black women are often lower compared to other racial groups in the United State, which ties into higher rates of infant mortality, health experts say.
“This disparity is influenced by systemic issues, including lack of access to culturally sensitive lactation support, fewer breastfeeding role models, and workplace barriers,” said Jazmin Long, CEO of Birthing Beautiful Communities, a nonprofit that provides doulas to support pregnant women who are at high risk for infant mortality.
Misinformation claiming that breastfeeding isn’t part of Black culture persists, Long said.
“During slavery, Black women were often forced to wet-nurse the children of enslavers, leading to generational trauma around breastfeeding,” Long said. “However, many Black women today are reclaiming breastfeeding as a natural and empowering act.”
Quashing myths
Because of the benefit of breastfeeding for women and children, Long and other area lactation specialists quash myths with facts.
“The No. 1 myth I hear all the time — and it just gets passed down from generation to generation — is that a breastfeeding mom shouldn’t eat foods that make people gassy, like broccoli, cauliflower or spicy foods, because those foods can affect the baby,” Dulabon said.
“There has been more research that has disproven some of these things,” Dulabon said.
And despite what the mommy blogs say, the “pink drink” from Starbucks -- a high-calorie smoothie that supposedly increases a mom’s milk production -- is no magic elixir
“I’m sure it’s delicious, but not something that you want to be doing every single day, if there’s no real benefit,” Dulabon said.
Here are some other common myths about breastfeeding, and what the science says. Mary Ann Blatz, lactation consultant at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Long, Dulabon, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Breastfeeding Support and the CDC provided information.
Myth: Small-breasted women can’t successfully breastfeed.
Fact: Breast size has nothing to do with lactation.
Myth: Breastfeeding ruins your body.
Fact: While breastfeeding can temporarily alter breast size or firmness, it doesn’t permanently “ruin” a woman’s breasts, and is linked to health benefits for the mother.
Myth: Formula is just as good as breast milk.
Fact: Everything a baby needs is in breast milk. “That’s how the human species survived and thrived for thousands of years; formula is a relatively new thing to the human evolution,” UH’s Blatz said.
Breast milk has more vitamins and components than formula, Blatz said.
“Formula companies are always working to isolate what’s in breast milk so that they can add to their formula, but they’re not quite there yet,” Blatz said.
Myth: Breastfeeding is only for women who can afford to stay home.
Fact: Working while breastfeeding is challenging, but not impossible. Federal laws like the Affordable Care Act require employers to provide break time and private spaces for breastfeeding, Long said. Lactation consultants can also help mothers find ways to manage breastfeeding while working.
Myth: Breastfeeding isn’t necessary for large, healthy babies.
Fact: A baby’s size doesn’t correlate with the need for breast milk. Breast milk provides essential nutrients and immune support for babies of all sizes.
Myth: Over-the-counter lactation supplements — cookies, pills and teas— really work.
Fact: Most women don’t need them, and they are not beneficial.
Myth: Something’s wrong if a lactating woman isn’t producing large amounts of breast milk like Tik Tok influencers do.
Fact: “These days, lots of moms think they have low supply, when, in fact, their supply is normal,” Dulabon said. “They’re just so used to seeing lots of videos on social media of women who have oversupply.”
While some women naturally have a robust milk supply, social media influencers who brag about having a large milk supply probably are pumping so much that they are creating an oversupply. Dulabon said. Over-pumping is associated with a higher risk of breast infection, inflammation and pain.
Normal milk supply is about one ounce per hour.
Myth: Yeast in beer increases breast milk supply.
Fact: If a mom notices an increase in her supply after drinking beer, it’s probably just from the increased calories, and not due to anything in the beer.
A glass of wine, beer or mixed drink per day is safe for lactating women and babies.
Myth: Moms of premature babies, or infants that are hospitalized, can’t breastfeed.
Fact: After 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, a woman can start to make milk. Premature infants who need help breathing, or can’t be put to the breast, can drink pumped breast milk.
“Your milk is like medicine for that baby,” UH’s Blatz said.
Myth: Breastfeeding is painful.
Fact: Soreness is common, especially at the beginning of breastfeeding. Painful nipples can happen when the baby is in the wrong position, or has a tongue tie that prevents the infant from getting an open, deep latch, Akron Children’s Dulabon said.
If the discomfort is still happening by the time mom and baby leave the hospital, or the pain is so bad that mom doesn’t want to feed the baby, she should be seen by a lactation provider.
Myth: Lactating mothers should “pump and dump,” which means pumping and discarding breast milk, if they are taking medication.
Fact: Most over-the-counter and prescription medications are considered safe during breastfeeding. They don’t enter breast milk and affect the baby. This includes antidepression medications, Dulabon said.
In order for a substance to get into breast milk, it has to be small enough to be transported from the woman’s bloodstream into the breast’s milk-making tissue, Dulabon said. Large molecules, such as most drugs, can’t pass into breast milk.
“Whenever a mom is told that she should pump and dump, it’s always worth thinking, is that actually the case?” Dulabon said. “It’s pretty rare that a mom truly needs to pump and dump her milk. So if you’re ever told by a healthcare provider to pump and dump for however long, I would definitely get more information.”
How the body produces breast milk
Milk production occurs within the alveoli, grape-like clusters of cells within the breast. Milk is squeezed out through the alveoli into the milk ducts, which carry the milk through the breast.
When a woman becomes pregnant, her milk ducts start expanding. This is why sore breasts is an early sign of pregnancy, Dulabon said.
Expectant women start making colostrum, an early type of breast milk that is high in antibodies, at around 14 to 16 weeks of pregnancy.
After an infant and placenta are delivered, the body receives starts producing breast milk. This happens between three to seven days after delivery.
The body adjusts milk production to the baby’s demand, Dulabon said. Every time a baby nurses, or every time a mom pumps and removes milk from the breast, hormones signal the breasts to make more milk.
Where to learn more
Birthing Beautiful Communities: This community of doulas provides social support to high-risk pregnant women.
Project Milk Mission: Nonprofit that is working to increase breastfeeding rates and achieve better maternal health outcomes.
First Droplets: This website promotes effective breastfeeding in the first five days after birth.
Kellymom.com: This website provides evidence-based information on breastfeeding and parenting.
LactMed: This database contains information on drugs and possible adverse effects for nursing infant. All data are derived from the scientific literature and fully referenced.
Akron Children’s Hospital: The hospital’s breastfeeding medicine team is dedicated to helping mothers navigate challenges while breastfeeding.
Ohio Health Mothers’ Milk Bank: This agency collects and distributes donated breast milk. Here is a previous story about the milk bank’s work.
Howard University Hosts Panel to Address Black Maternal Health Crisis
Howard University Hosts Panel to Address Black Maternal Health Crisis
In partnership with Walmart and the PNC National Center for Entrepreneurship, Howard University hosted a Maternal Health Panel at the University’s College of Medicine.
The panel coincided with the Congressional Black Caucus’ 53rd legislative session as congressional affiliates drafted and advocated for bills to address the Black maternal crisis. Black women are currently dying at three times the rate of white women during childbirth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 80% of those deaths are preventable.
Connecting Black Maternal Advocates
Before the panel, Jazmin Long, CEO and founder of Birthing Beautiful Communities in Cleveland, Ohio, and Que English, director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), spoke about their efforts to minimize Black maternal mortality rates.
Long emphasized her services being provided at no costs for all Black women, highlighting the importance of “paying it forward” for generations of Black children to come.
“We train a workforce of doulas...outside of the 70 that we have working for us, there are 200 more that do not work for our organization who choose to become entrepreneurs and practice doula services in their own businesses,” Long said. “Many of them are not doing this for money. Many of them are doing it because they understand the importance of a mom to have social support and labor and delivery support during birth and labor.”
English spoke to some of her center’s initiatives, including a 25-city tour to encourage practices that eliminate the racial and ethnic disparities of Black women’s mortality rates. Community connections, English said, is the defining factor on discovering solutions to diminishing Black women’s mortality birthing rate.
“At every leg of the tour, we introduce them to a village that many don’t even know exist for them around mental health services, health care coverage, lactation, breastfeeding support, resources for babies and for dads and doula and delivery services,” English said.
A Panel of Black Maternal Advocates
Shari Lawson, MD, MBA, served as panel moderator. Lawson is chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology in Howard University’s College of Medicine. “Black maternal health is something that is my passion,” Lawson said. “When I first learned about infant mortality, I was just completely struck by the idea that Black babes in America, one of the foremost countries in the world, really have such a terrible survival rate.”
The featured panelists were 4Kira4Moms founder Charles Johnson, National Action Network (NAN) health equity director and program policy liaison Alicia Butler, and comedian and alumna Angelina Spicer (BFA ’03).
Johnson started 4Kira4Moms after his wife Kira died in 2016 after giving birth to their second son Langston. A CT scan was requested but never conducted, and Kira did not receive care for more than 10 hours. She died with more than three liters of blood in her chest.
“I was transparent about the fact that when I walked into that hospital, I never thought that my wife would not out to raise her sons,” Johnson said. “It never crossed my mind.”
Since Kira’s death, Johnson has advocated for maternal health policies and called for investigations into hospital protocols when listening to the concerns of Black mothers and their families.
“I began to hear other stories from families whose mothers had made that ultimate sacrifice trying to give the gift of life,” Johnson said. “I’m making a deliberate call to action that we need to have a goal as a country of zero preventable deaths from pregnancy and pregnancy-related symptoms in the next five years.”
The community approach will take care of our everyday needs”
Spicer’s journey into Black maternal health advocacy began with her own motherhood experience. After birthing her daughter, Spicer recalled moments where her emotional, mental, and physical state were unrecognizable, causing her postpartum anxiety and depression.
“I felt unprepared, unqualified, overwhelmed,” Spicer said. “The weight of responsibility of being a mom really hit me hard after I had my baby.”
Spicer would subsequently undergo a 10-day inpatient psychiatric stay to regulate her symptoms. She discusses that experience, and the realities of motherhood, in comedy clubs and more casual spaces to bring the messaging around Black maternal mortality rates to listeners’ front door. Spicer also embarked on a multi-city tour she titled “The Postpartum Revolution,” traveling in a pink bus emblazoned with its eye-catching name.
Labeling herself an “accidental activist,” Spicer said that her “Spicey Moms” brand allows her to fuse the funny with the misfortunate.
“It’s important to me that moms know what motherhood truly looks like,” Spicer said. “Finding that balance is always tricky. Most times, we’re talking about things that are most times shameful.”
Butler was disheartened by the apathy she discovered around Black maternal health and has spent much of her time at NAN developing solutions to such a glaring issue.
“Once I got into the maternal health space, I was mortified to find out that Black women are dying, and nobody cares,” Butler said. “I was able to build out different partnerships...and I realized we needed to approach this from a reproductive justice lens because civil rights organizations acknowledge that race is a factor in all of these implicit biases.”
Saint Luke’s Foundation awards more than $1.7M to 20 local groups working toward health equity
Saint Luke’s Foundation awards more than $1.7M to 20 local groups working toward health equity
Yesterday, Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Saint Luke’s Foundation board of trustees approved in its fourth-quarter board meeting grants to 20 organizations totaling $1,769,760.
These investments advance the foundation’s mission to achieve health equity by addressing social determinants of health, including:
• Educational attainment
• Financial stability
• Healthy eating and active living
• Safe and affordable housing
• Social connections
• Strengthening neighborhoods surrounding the former Saint Luke’s Hospital
“At the Saint Luke's Foundation, we strive to invest in work that directly reflects the needs and aspirations of our community,” St. Luke’s Foundation president and CEO Tim Tramble said in a statement. “This quarter’s strategy partners represent a powerful cross-section of organizations addressing critical needs.
“They collectively serve as a testament that the talent and power needed to forge change reside within the community,” Tramble continued. “The initiatives supporting this funding cycle embody resilience, creativity, and determination within our neighborhoods. We are proud to support these efforts as they tackle the social determinants of health and create a brighter tomorrow.”
St. Luke’s Foundation board chair Terry Allan says The Saint Luke’s Foundation continues to focus on listening, learning, and the inclusion of community voices in the foundation’s community work.
“This quarter’s board grants exemplify the strength within the communities we serve, as they reflect a deep understanding of the challenges faced and a shared vision for solutions that promote equity, health, and opportunity,” Allan said in a statement.
St. Luke’s Foundation officials say these grants exemplify the foundation’s commitment to fostering positive change and improving community health and well-being.
The 20 grants awarded (all grants are for one year unless otherwise noted):
Beat the Streets Cleveland: $30,000
The grant will provide program support to provide free youth development, mentoring, and wrestling programs for 200 underserved K-12 students in Cleveland’s Mount Pleasant, Buckeye, and Woodland Hills neighborhoods, aiming to boost school attendance, academic performance, confidence, and leadership skills. The program leverages sports to engage youth while fostering social capital through mentorship, with measurable outcomes tracked via attendance records, report cards, and pre- and post-program surveys.
Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC): $100,000
The grant will support BBC's comprehensive, culturally grounded services to improve maternal and infant health outcomes, including perinatal support, doula training, parenting education, and mental health resources. The intended impact includes increasing full-term births and breastfeeding rates, expanding the doula collective, and equipping families to combat systemic stressors, ultimately promoting health equity and reducing racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality.
Buckeye Christian Collaborative: $50,000
The grant will provide program support to pilot a Workforce Training Program providing construction pre-apprenticeship certification, life skills training, and case management to young adults in Cleveland's Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood. The 12-week program will equip participants with classroom learning, coaching, and on-the-job training to secure employment in the construction industry, enhancing both financial stability and potential community revitalization.
Buckeye H.E.A.L (fiscal sponsor is Fairhill Partners): $54,910
The grant will provide general operating support for Buckeye HEAL to increase access to healthy food, cooking demonstrations, and exercise programs.
One program includes partnering with City Fresh to deliver weekly fresh produce to 75 residents and connect 200 residents to fitness resources. Additionally, funds will support staffing expansion, enhanced community outreach, and contracting residents to lead exercise programs and participate in Community Health Worker training.
Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc.: $133,850
The grant will support BBC's efforts to implement the Purpose Built Communities neighborhood plan, focusing on housing, economic opportunities, wellness, and strengthening community connections through a resident engagement strategy.
The intended impact includes fostering collaboration across neighborhoods, reducing service gaps through an asset map, and building partnerships to execute the long-term vision for the Buckeye/Woodhill and Buckeye/Shaker areas.
Case Western Reserve University: $96,000
The grant will support the Social Justice Law Center's continued coordination of the Youth Justice Collaborative (YJC), fostering collaboration among community partners, policymakers, and youth to advance systemic reform in youth justice.
The intended impact includes driving actionable steps, sharing best practices, and building partnerships to address key issues, ultimately promoting equitable outcomes for at-risk youth.
City Club of Cleveland: $60,000
The grant will support the City Club's forum series on health equity and its connections to social determinants of health, with plans to convene up to six forums, livestream them, and reach more than 1,000 participants through in-person and virtual access.
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority: (CMHA): $200,000
The grant will support CMHA in aiding Woodhill Homes residents during and after relocation by addressing barriers to housing stability, such as transportation, childcare, utilities, and security deposits, and by establishing a peer-to-peer support network to maintain community connections.
Additionally, the grant will fund initiatives to bridge the digital divide through resident Digital Navigators and support the Police-Assisted Referral program, connecting residents to services that mitigate the impacts of violence and trauma.
Enterprise Community Partners: $140,000
The grant will support Enterprise Community Partners in advancing equitable housing policies, preventing childhood lead poisoning, expanding affordable housing, and increasing financial stability for low-income families through programs like VITA and advocacy for renter protections.
Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC): $100,000
The grant will support GCC's work to address critical community issues in Cuyahoga County, including advancing health equity for aging residents, promoting criminal justice reforms to reduce racial disparities, and empowering local leaders to address voter suppression and depression.
Additionally, GCC will continue to foster economic democracy by leveraging collective purchasing power to achieve significant cost savings for vulnerable nonprofit organizations in the region.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): $100,000
The grant will support LISC Heirs’ Property Resolution Program in the Buckeye/Woodhill neighborhood, helping households resolve title issues to preserve homeownership, build generational wealth, and address the racial wealth gap.
This program aligns with the foundation's strategy to advance household financial stability by providing essential tools for low-income homeowners.
Neighborhood Leadership Institute (NLI): $110,000
The grant will support NLI's leadership development programs, including its 16-week flagship training for grassroots leaders, community engagement efforts in the Saint Luke's Foundation footprint, and its Community Book Club that addresses systemic racism.
With a new leader, the organization aims to deepen community organizing efforts, enhance resident engagement through the L.E.V. 216 platform, and continue fostering civic participation and social connections.
East 66th Street Services, Inc. (dba Neighborhood Connections): $100,000
The grant, which is comprised of $75,000 for general operating support and $25,000 for capacity building, will support Neighborhood Connections' efforts to build a resident-led, interdependent network in Greater Buckeye through Neighbor Nights, door-to-door organizing, and civic initiatives that foster mutual support and collective action.
Funding will support a neighborhood summit, supporting 20 to 25 civic associations and enhancing communication efforts to strengthen community engagement and advocacy.
New City Cleveland: $35,000
The grant, which is comprised of $30,000 for general operating support and $5,000 for capacity building, will enable New City Cleveland to expand programs and hire a part-time development specialist. This will strengthen the organization’s core initiatives, including the Winter Workday, SummerStrong, and MamaStrong programs, while also increasing revenue through improved fundraising efforts.
New Era Cleveland (fiscal sponsor is East End Neighborhood House): $150,000
The grant will support New Era Cleveland's programs focused on trauma recovery, community violence intervention, and civic engagement, including recruiting and training an 11-member Trauma Response Team and hosting safety-focused community events.
Funds will also support the expanding Safe Zone Partnerships in local business corridors and enhancing their new building to better serve participants' needs.
Ohio Transformation Fund (fiscal sponsor is Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association): $60,000
The grant will provide general operating support to transform Ohio's criminal legal system by advancing legislative reforms, such as the Ohio GROW Act, and reducing the impact of collateral sanctions on justice-impacted individuals, particularly Black Ohioans disproportionately affected by these policies.
Philanthropy Ohio: $50,000 for two years
The grant will be used for general operating support to continue advancing equitable, community-centered philanthropy through 80 programs, events, and resources, while fostering collaboration with policymakers, stakeholders, and members on key issues like health, education, and housing policy. A $2,000 grant add- on will be used for capacity building.
Providence House: $75,000
The grant will support the launch of Providence House East Campus Family Preservation services, including hiring key staff, opening 10 beds by late 2024, and providing crisis nursery care to approximately 80 children from 25 families within the first eight months of operation.
By 2026, with full staffing and operations, the East Campus aims to serve 250 children and 125 parents annually, alongside expanded community engagement and resource events.
Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center: $50,000
The grant, which includes $40,000 for general operating support and $10,000 for capacity building, will provide operating support to Pregnant with Possibilities to strengthen the M.O.M. prenatal program, aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes for mothers in low-wealth communities. This funding will enhance services, increase program participation, and address disparities in access to care and resources.
Towards Employment: $65,000
The grant will provide operating support to help individuals complete career readiness training, with them placed in above-minimum-wage jobs, while advancing career progression through education, technical training, and leadership development programs for alumni.
The organization also aims to enhance economic mobility and social capital—particularly for Black and brown individuals—by expanding outreach in underserved neighborhoods, integrating financial and wellness services, and fostering community-driven recruitment efforts like the "On The Ground Network" and Young Adult Ambassador peer programs.
Local Nonprofits Receive $2 Million To Boost Equitable Access To Care - Three Arches Foundation Announces 2024 Grants
Local Nonprofits Receive $2 Million To Boost Equitable Access To Care - Three Arches Foundation Announces 2024 Grants
Three Arches Foundation, a community-focused grant making foundation, announced $2 million in funding toward grants to twenty-two local nonprofit organizations working to address barriers to health care. Each grant reflects the Foundation’s priority focus on equitable access to behavioral and physical health care faced by communities and populations most impacted by health disparities.
This year’s grants address a diversity of needs accomplished through the expansion of existing programs and services, funding of new initiatives, and support of general operations. “These grants reflect a multitude of approaches that strengthen important systems of support in our communities in order to meet the respective needs of those who often face challenges in accessing essential health care,” shared Kristin Broadbent, president and CEO of the Foundation. “From partnering with organizations that embrace a culturally centered care approach to funding programs that utilize trauma-informed care to promote healing, to supporting preventive and wrap-around behavioral health services, this work is designed to boost health equity.”
“We’re proud to support our 2024 grant recipients who recognize and understand barriers to access that make managing care difficult for individuals and families impacted by health disparities,” comments Gina Gavlak, board chair of the Foundation. “Together, these investments help fill gaps that exist within the health care landscape.”
In addition to this year’s recipients, four nonprofit partners will begin year two of their multi-year grant awarded last year. These include Colors+, In Harmony Therapeutic Services, LifeAct, and Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center. The Foundation also contributed to and continues its participation in the Greater Cleveland Funder’s Collaborative.
Highlights of 2024 grants approved by the Foundation’s board of directors include:
B. Riley Sober House - $61,250 for the addition of a part-time psychiatrist and full-time Licensed Independent Social Worker to the staff which represent a new component in providing onsite comprehensive mental health counseling, improved substance use disorder counseling, and integrated treatment for co-occurring disorders.
Bellefaire JCB - $228,647 to sustain access to vital behavioral health consultation and critical trauma-informed prevention services for students, families, and staff in seven Lakewood City Schools through Bellefaire’s School-Based Counseling program.
Birthing Beautiful Communities - $25,000 to provide Perinatal Support Doulas at no cost to predominately Black expectant and new mothers in TAF’s geographic focus to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and postpartum experience.
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center - $80,000 to fund the Access to Care program that provides support and information to survivors of rape, sexual abuse, and human trafficking through the crisis hotline and during face-to-face hospital interactions, with the majority of those visits occurring within TAF’s geographic area.
Eliza Jennings Home - $150,000 - unrestricted funding to overcome current barriers to long-term care, enhance essential services, and increase its skilled workforce to ensure medically and economically fragile adults on the west side of Cleveland have access to the high-quality, compassionate care they need. With a shared interest in supporting cognitive function in older adults, this grant is funded through the generosity of Three Arches Foundation’s Harold C. Schott Foundation Endowment Fund.
GiGi’s Playhouse Cleveland - $60,055 to sustain and enhance the Amina Grace Speech & Language research-driven program that provides individuals with Down syndrome who are predisposed to low muscle tone and cognitive delays with expanded opportunities to evolve and refine their speech and language skills.
Hispanic UMADAOP - $30,000 renewed operating support of culturally sensitive holistic prevention education, harm reduction, client-centered treatment, and re-entry programs.
Journey Center for Safety and Healing - $75,000 toward Journey’s Trauma Services program tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals from Lakewood and surrounding communities with a history of trauma caused by exposure to domestic violence and/or child abuse.
May Dugan Center - $81,728 continued support of May Dugan Center’s Trauma-Informed Music Therapy program that provides all individuals, regardless of insurance status or inability to pay, with comprehensive culturally competent mental health treatment through funding of an in-house music therapist.
Neighborhood Family Practice - $120,000 operating support of NFP’s work to remove barriers that hinder access to primary care, behavioral health, midwifery, dental, HIV, and pharmacy initiatives for historically marginalized populations.
OhioGuidestone - $112,577 renewed funding to provide extensive mental health wraparound services for students, families, and staff at four elementary schools in the Lakewood City School District.
Partnership for Good Health - $50,000 for a Certified Community Health Worker who helps newcomer clients gain equitable access to health care by carrying out navigation, coordination, and health education activities with a shared common language and cultural understanding.
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio - $81,000 to maintain stable and affordable access to all FDA-approved forms of contraception and birth control services for patients with low incomes who benefit from this care at the Rocky River health center.
Recovery Resources - $120,000 unrestricted funding to support work that breaks down barriers for people struggling with mental health and substance use disorder through a community-based approach focused on all aspects of health which is vital to managing and sustaining recovery.
Renee Jones Empowerment Center - $124,200 (over two years) continued investment for the work of a nurse, vital to the delivery of free, basic screening and needs assessment for individuals and families in underserved and high-risk neighborhoods at the medical clinic and during street outreach.
Re:Source Cleveland - $84,240 to proactively support the mental and physical health of newcomer youth and their families by providing access to individualized and wrap-around services that are culturally and linguistically familiar, appropriate, and sensitive through the ongoing work of the Healthy Pathway’s coach and addition of youth specialists.
Signature Health - $71,000 to continue patient navigation and transportation services for high-risk patients in Lakewood and surrounding communities.
Smart Development - $60,000 to help refugees and immigrants understand and navigate the local health care system by bridging cultural and linguistic gaps through the work of a health and wellness team comprised of a social worker, case manager, and community navigator.
Spanish American Committee - $50,000 to support the Spanish American Committee's Licensed Independent Social Worker and Licensed Social Worker who provide counseling and case management services to the Latino/Hispanic Community as part of the Families First program.
The Centers - $120,000 operating funds to support The Centers’ integrated approach to providing services in a way that addresses foundational health and wellness needs and connects individuals and families to a full continuum of offerings.
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation - $120,000 to extend equitable access to care for Lakewood adolescents with funding for well-established youth mental health navigator services, ongoing psychological research support, and the addition of a psychiatric nurse to assist with services and help pilot chemical dependency and eating disorder support coordination that addresses an unmet need within the student population.
Urban Community School - $75,000 continued support for the Director of Mental Health and Counseling Services position who is vital in the guidance and operations of the school’s unique medical model of mental health counseling services, as well as the addition of two innovative school-based mental health technologies to enhance the comprehensive support system.
For additional details about these grants, please visit www.threearchesfoundation.org/grants-awarded
About Three Arches Foundation (TAF) – Three Arches Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that invests in advancing the health and well-being of the people of Lakewood and surrounding communities through grant making. By connecting people, ideas and resources, the Three Arches Foundation fosters a collaborative approach towards investing in organizations whose work directly addresses the continuum of physical and behavioral health issues. For more information, visit threearchesfoundation.org.
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Support Birthing Beautiful Communities with Macy's Round Up!
Support Birthing Beautiful Communities with Macy's Round Up!
We are excited to announce that Birthing Beautiful Communities is partnering with Macy's Round Up program! From October 16, 2024 through October 31, 2024, when you shop at Macy's, you can make a difference by rounding up your purchase to the nearest dollar. Every cent from your Round Up supports our mission of providing critical care and resources to birthing persons and families in our community.
When you’re shopping in-store, this simple action helps us continue creating healthy, thriving futures for moms and babies. Head to your Macy’s in University Square today and be part of the change!
Shop Macy's University Square: 2201 Warrensville Center Rd, University Heights, OH 44118
Thank you for your support!
Local Wave of Light Ceremony Set to Return to Live and In Person Event as Well as Virtual
Cleveland, OH - The annual Wave of Light (WOL) global ceremony will once again be held October 15 to encourage individuals to light a candle to reflect upon pregnancy and infant loss and those affected by it.
The event has grown since its start seven years ago from 66 babies being honored to 129 registered babies over 200 names called and 220 YouTube views in 2023. This year’s theme is A Family’s Support and will be a hybrid event; Streamed for families at home and across the globe, but also live and in person for the second year since COVID19 at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.
“Twins run in our family, but nobody had born any since my father’s generation. I always thought it would be one of my children that would have twins so when Samantha became pregnant with Christyan and Jayden, I was absolutely thrilled! In my excitement, I never thought it was possible that the boys would not survive. It was devastating to all of us and as we continue to move through the healing process, we are blessed to have PAIL and the Wave of Light to help us every day and every year.” Joyce Williams - Mother of Samantha Williams-Pierce
To participate in the 2024 WOL event, individuals are encouraged to register online at Wave of Light Cleveland 2024 (#waveoflightCle) Registration, Tue, Oct 15, 2024 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite by 5:00 pm, Wednesday, October 9 to assure their baby’s name is included in the ceremony. When individuals’ complete registration, they will receive a meeting link to participate in the October 15 ceremony or other instructions if they are attending the live event. Candles with the baby(s) names will be created for those attending in person only.
The doors will open at 5:30 pm, the program begins promptly at 6:30 pm, with the candle lighting ceremony starting promptly at 7:00 pm. A live broadcast of the ceremony will be on YouTube and can be found at https://youtube.com/live/4JCiZK68Hfc?feature=share. Participants are encouraged to share and show support on social media using #waveoflightcle.
First Year Cleveland has proudly served as the founding and primary sponsor of the annual Wave of Light ceremony. Birthing Beautiful Communities and Charles Martin Corvi Foundation also provided generous support to the ceremony.
MetroHealth launches midwife program to reduce infant mortality rates
The MetroHealth System launched a midwifery program this month in an effort to drive down infant mortality rates in Northeast Ohio.
Amy Lowell, who joined MetroHealth in late June as director of the new midwifery program, said the first priority for the new program is a focus on the communities that have been hardest hit by infant mortality.
"Right now, we are going to be located primarily at Cleveland Heights and Brooklyn," she said. "And the decision for that was based on zip codes with the worst outcomes."
According to Case Western Reserve University, the infant mortality rate for Black babies in Cleveland is more than double the rate for white babies, with 15.4 deaths per 1,000 live births for Black infants versus 6.9 deaths per 1,000 for white infants. In Cuyahoga County, the rate is 13 deaths for every 1,000 births for Black infants versus four deaths for every 1,000 births for white infants.
Jazmin Long, CEO of Birthing Beautiful Communities, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing the infant and maternal mortality rate in Cleveland, agreed that providing this service to disadvantaged communities is necessary and equitable.
"I just think that this speaks to the understanding that it doesn't matter what our current population is, they deserve respect, they deserve to have dignity in their birth and they deserve to have quality care for them," Long said.
MetroHealth is providing labor support by using doulas from Birthing Beautiful Communities. Doulas are birthing professionals who provide information and counseling during pregnancy, comfort during labor and assistance with breastfeeding and newborn care.
Both midwives and doulas play critical roles in the delivery process, Long noted.
"Us doulas, we are labor and delivery support coaches," she said. "We offer the social support and they [midwives] offer the clinical support. Both are needed to really ensure that our families here in Northeast Ohio have what they need to have great birth outcomes and great experiences in their labor and delivery at the hospital."
Lowell noted that MetroHealth is adding five midwives to its program, which will improve access to care.
"That's going to mean that patients can get in earlier," she said, adding that earlier care can head off potential complications and relay important information to help expectant mothers make good decisions for their sake and their child. "Our job is to give you the information, to make the best choices for you."
Part of this work is countering misinformation, such as the assumption that there's no need to be screened for diabetes just because a patient's mother did not have diabetes, or the assumption that an epidural will not work or could cause paralysis, Lowell added.
"A lot of women come in with really false information that they've either gotten from family members who have good intentions or the internet," she said. "It's our job to dispel the myths so they can get their facts right, so that they can make the decision to keep themselves healthy and the baby healthy."
The program is also meant to engage more with expectant mothers to ensure they have more of a say in decisions regarding their child's birth, Lowell added.
"I would like our patients to know, besides getting solid care, that the relationship that we're looking to build with them is that they're an active participant in their health care and that they'll be listened to," she said. "Obviously, the end result we all want is a healthy, full-term baby, healthy mom. Getting there looks differently for each family, so I want them to know that they will be active participants in the care."
Lowell said her plans are to expand the program to add additional midwives over the next two years.
Kindland: Protection, care for Black infants, mothers drive two of Cleveland’s most passionate advocates
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Kindness comes in many forms. It doesn’t come as early (or as often) as it should for many. Yet, protection and care for the community’s most vulnerable is perhaps the greatest kindness of all.
Two Black women are doing all in their power to create change in the community for Black infants and their mothers, with the aim of giving them the best possible shot at surviving and thriving.
If you’ve spent any time reading this column over the last year, you know that helping the most vulnerable of us survive and thrive is perhaps the biggest kindness of all.
A Cleveland State University interdisciplinary research initiative called Survive and Thrive has been partnering with Birthing Beautiful Communities, a local nonprofit founded in 2014 for the express purpose of reducing Black infant and maternal deaths. Their initiatives are changing and saving lives.
In Ohio, Black women are more than five times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than the state average, according to a recent JAMA study.
In 2020, nearly 75% of the babies in Cleveland who died before they turned one were Black. Tasked to reduce infant and maternal mortality, the partnership was awarded grant funding from the Ohio Third Frontier (via the Ohio Department of Higher Education, ODHE) a few years ago to help the partnership in the development of a mobile app called “Thrive.” Heather Rice, Ph.D., assistant professor at Cleveland State University’s School of Nursing (housed in CSU’s College of Health), served as principal investigator for the Survive and Thrive team. Her work has been integral in keeping the funding and stabilization of the team’s collective efforts level.
App information includes “everything from a breastfeeding tool, kick counter, developmental milestones tracker, vital signs tracker and support ticket that allows mothers to request assistance with transportation and support services.”
New additions will focus on stress reduction, mindfulness and breathing strategies.
The app was developed in concert with Ohio tech company Big Kitty Labs, with a range of resources from workforce development training and job placement services, to “emotional support opportunities” for both mothers and fathers.
The Thrive app scores and synthesizes risks by category, creating an intuitively based, individual “perinatal pathway” for parents to follow.
“With my background as a pediatric nurse practitioner, I am passionate about how research can impact the work being done around infant and maternal mortality,” Rice said in an interview in 2021.
Being able to coalesce social and clinical data with the team and Birthing Beautiful Communities to uplift and support mothers and families has been a personal mission for her.