skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, February 17, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

At Least 11 Dead After Severe Flooding Sweeps The South; Hundreds Of Thousands Without Power; Abandoned Mine Land program frozen as Appalachia faces severe flooding; Solar power gives MN resort new blood, new life.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Top Trump officials set to meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia over the Ukraine war. The GOP budget resolution is at risk as moderates weigh out consequences. New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he's "going nowhere."

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rural America struggles with opioids and homelessness in unexpected ways, Colorado's Lariat Ditch could help spur local recreation, and book deliveries revive rural communities hit by Hurricane Helene.

NY works to address high maternal mortality rates

play audio
Play

Wednesday, October 2, 2024   

New York is working to address its maternal mortality rates.

The state's Department of Health reported between 2018 and 2020, there were 121 pregnancy-related deaths. Close to 74% of them could have been prevented. The findings also showed Black women had a maternal mortality rate five times higher than white women.

Chanel Porchia-Albert, founder and CEO of Ancient Song Doula Services, said midwives and doulas can be a solution.

"The doula is able to, you know, do home visits, is coming in, is providing emotional well-being, helping them get prepared in terms of how to physically set up things at the home," Porchia-Albert outlined. "Then offering comfort measures at the birth as well as postpartum care."

Studies show a doula's presence throughout pregnancy and during birth can improve outcomes for women of all races and ethnicities. New York's Department of Health issued a standing order expanding access to doula services, including creating a $250,000 Doula Expansion Grant Program and the Department of Health's doula directory, which helps people find doulas who can provide services to Medicaid members.

Along with doulas, midwives can fill gaps in necessary care. Porchia-Albert added certified nurse midwives can practice in the state but certified professional midwives cannot. During the pandemic, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order allowing certified professional midwives to practice but it ended with the pandemic. She feels reinstating the rule permanently would be helpful.

"If you know that these individuals are a huge part of combating a lot of the strains that are on the current infrastructure, why are we not creating more equitable pathways for midwives of different licensure to be able to practice in the state?" Porchia-Albert asked.

She emphasized it is not enough to increase public funding, as the philanthropic sector can do more to support doula and midwife services. Porchia-Albert added creating sustainable funding can benefit overall maternal health care services.

"Create a pathway where you are creating three, four-year investments," Porchia-Albert urged. "Understanding that you're not just investing in the organization but you're creating a sustainable pathway for longevity along the way."


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Data from Indiana's Marion County Public Health Department show of the 124 overdose deaths in April-June 2024, 71 were white men, 36 were Black men and 6 were Hispanic women. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

The incidence of drug overdose is decreasing in Indiana and one reason could be the efforts of an organization offering free training to anyone willin…


Social Issues

play sound

By Kim Kobersmith for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for South Carolina News Service for the Daily Yonder-Public News Service Coll…

Environment

play sound

Wyoming is one of several Western states where some lawmakers arguing states should have more control of the federally managed public lands within the…


Environment

play sound

By Amy McDermott for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for for California News Service reporting…

Libraries are tailored to their local communities, Varga says, such as a local library in Virginia Beach offering surfboard rentals. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

February is Library Lovers Month - and libraries across the Commonwealth are encouraging their long-time and new patrons to celebrate. Lisa Varga…

Social Issues

play sound

According to the Immigration Policy Tracking Project, the Trump administration has taken 130 actions on immigration so far this term. Groups in …

Environment

play sound

A Utah legislator has introduced a bill to increase transparency for consumers in the Beehive State when purchasing cultivated meat products…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021