Christaiua Williams, a single mom living in North Carolina, was overwhelmed and scared when she was expecting her daughter. But thanks to the Nurse-Family Partnership program offered by Care Ring, Williams received the support and guidance she needed during those first crucial months of her daughter’s life.

The program connects expectant mothers with a nurse who visits them at home before and after their baby arrives, for up to two years. Through this program, Williams was matched with Anita Beatty, a nurse who provided counseling and coaching to help her navigate the challenges of motherhood.

Beatty’s role is to support and provide education around health for mothers, teaching them how to advocate for what they need. She finds it humbling to be able to provide something that mothers are in need of, even if they don’t always know what they need.

Sadly, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women due to factors such as access to health care and structural racism. As a nurse working with the Nurse-Family Partnership program, Beatty has seen firsthand the importance of providing support and resources to mothers who may not have access otherwise.

Care Ring is now looking to expand the Nurse-Family Partnership program across the greater Charlotte area in order to provide support to mothers until their child is 2 years old. This expansion will help ensure that more families receive the resources they need during those critical first few years of life.