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Spokane groups expand community-based early learning and maternal-health supports
Summary
Two Spokane nonprofit leaders described community-driven programs that pair doulas, mental-health supports and volunteer “village” networks with child-care centers to address early-childhood discipline disparities, maternal-health gaps and teacher burnout.
Alex Givolisco, manager of Equity and Inclusion Initiatives at the Spokane City Council Office, opened an episode of the office's Equity Spotlight by introducing two local childhood-development leaders who described community programs aimed at supporting families, educators and young children.
Stephanie Courtney, of the Learning Project Network and Shades of Motherhood Network, and Kara Bauer, owner of Little Scholars Development Center and founder of RAISE (an early-learning nonprofit described in the program), outlined work to expand doula access, mental and behavioral health supports in child-care settings, and a "village" model that connects community volunteers and service providers with centers.
Courtney said maternal-health data motivated her work: "Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die due to pregnancy related issues, and 60% of those causes are preventable," and she described a community assessment funded by Empire Health…
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