Black mothers often feel isolated and stressed in our healthcare system, and these feelings contribute to some troubling trends. In Colorado and across the U.S., Black women and babies die at a higher rate during childbirth than other racial and ethnic groups. African American babies are more likely to be born prematurely and underweight.
The Kindred Mamas Mentorship Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado was designed to address the isolation some expecting mothers feel and provide guidance for young mothers during pregnancy. By pairing young mothers with women who look like them and have walked a similar path, we hope they will feel more comfortable, self-assured and safe during pregnancy and after giving birth to their child.
What is the Kindred Mamas Program?
The Kindred Mamas Mentorship Program supports expecting mothers by connecting them with women who have been there before. Mentors provide extra support outside of our clinical services for mothers. As part of our larger Black Health Initiative, the Kindred Mamas Program aims to help mothers navigate the healthcare system and reduce mortality (death) rates among Black mothers and babies in several zip codes surrounding our hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. Mentees' children need to be patients of Children's Colorado to participate in this Program.
Mentors have first-hand experience that can help new moms manage life during pregnancy and after giving birth, navigate hospital resources, learn coping strategies and transition back home. Mentors also share their experiences that can help new moms and their family find their “new normal.”
The program gives mentees a trusted person to reach out to for non-medical advice during a life-changing time. Mentors and mentees form a bond around the challenges and joys of childbirth and parenthood.
What to expect from the Kindred Mamas Program
Step 1
If you're interested in joining the Kindred Mamas Program as a mentor or mentee, or if you have any questions about the program, please reach out to our team by email at kindredmamas@childrenscolorado.org or by phone at 720-777-6123.
Step 2
When we match a mentor with a mentee, their first meeting will take place at our hospital in Aurora with our Kindred Mamas program coordinator. The following meetings can occur at any of our locations based on the preference of the participants. After the initial meeting, each pair can communicate by phone, email and in-person at one of our locations. They agree to communicate 4 to 6 hours a month and decide how to manage that time.
Our mentors are team members or volunteers at Children’s Colorado who have been carefully selected and complete our volunteer orientation. They also attend a mentorship training specific to the Kindred Mamas Mentorship Program, as well as other screenings.
Step 3
Following this training, mentors can help mentees learn how to access their medical information, connect with hospital and community resources, and promote self-efficacy and advocacy skills while providing emotional support.
Mentors don’t provide medical advice, act on a mother’s or child’s behalf or provide monetary goods or personal services. They may visit mentees in their homes accompanied by a Children’s Colorado family health navigator. Each pair commits to the program for at least one year, but many women form friendships that last long beyond that. We hope this program helps mentees find an additional, unique support system beyond clinical care.