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Doula program supports birth parents and babies
Welcoming a baby into the world is a life-changing experience, but for some families, navigating pregnancy, birth and postpartum care can be challenging. The Healthy Children’s Fund is working to change that by funding doula services for Whatcom County Medicaid-eligible moms and birth parents.
Doula support has been shown to improve the health of new babies and new parents. Compared with pregnant people who don’t use doulas, those using a doula who are at high risk for complications are:
- Two times less likely to experience a birth complication
- Four times less likely to have a baby with a low birthweight.
- More likely to breastfeed
- More likely to feel happy about the care they received
This investment in perinatal care provides critical support to new parents and their babies, helping to ensure healthier outcomes for both.
"I see the benefits of this support daily, especially in how our community of doulas and parents uplifts each other," said Heron Paulson-Quick (they/them), one of nine local doulas who contracted to deliver services through the Healthy Children’s Fund in 2024.
Doulas provide continuous emotional, physical, and educational support throughout pregnancy and childbirth, which has been shown to improve health outcomes for birth parents and babies. Research indicates that partnering with a doula can reduce the likelihood of medical interventions, increase breastfeeding rates, and lower the chances of postpartum depression.
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A case for early learning: What the Heckman Equation shows
Nobel Laureate James Heckman, an economist at the University of Chicago, has spent decades studying how investments in early childhood impact communities.
His findings are now widely known as the “Heckman Equation,” a concept backed by economic data and neuroscience. Simply put, early investments in children — especially from birth to age 5 — yield the greatest return for society.
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Free parenting academy seminar: How to survive birth to five
5:30 p.m., May 1, 2025
Explore the unique journey of supporting social and emotional growth in this special developmental time of early childhood.
Attendees will receive a Zoom link via email before the event. Space is limited, register for this free event today!
This free Parenting Academy seminar is made possible by Brigid Collins Family Support Center and the Healthy Children's Fund.
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HCF program supervisor presented at Children's Summit: From Vision to Action
On March 28, 2025, Healthy Children's Fund program supervisor, Sarah Simpson, presented at the Chuckanut Health Foundation's Children's Summit: From Vision to Action.
You can watch a recording of her presentation where she provided an overview of the implementation process and the programs that have been funded by Healthy Children's Fund. She also announced new programs that will be coming soon and introduced two fund recipients who talked about the impact of the HCF dollars they have received.
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HCF represented on RAPID Survey Project panel
The Healthy Children's Fund was represented at Stanford University in late March, where Sarah Simpson participated in a panel discussion about the RAPID Survey Project.
The RAPID team is supporting Whatcom County by developing quarterly surveys for parents of children under age 6. We just finished our latest quarterly survey with 437 responses - 87 more than our first survey!
These surveys will take place over two years and will help HCF leaders better understand what families are experiencing and what they need, so they can make funding decisions.
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About the Healthy Children's Fund
The Healthy Children's Fund is the result of more than 10 years of work by hundreds of people from public and private groups. It is a voter-approved initiative that helps young children and their families in Whatcom County. The fund aims to create a county where:
- More children are safe, healthy and ready to learn.
- Families are strong, stable and supported.
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