Anita Beatty, a nurse working for Care Ring North Carolina’s Nurse-Family Partnership, has had the privilege of watching Christaiua Williams and her daughter Daylynn grow and thrive over the past two years. As part of the program, nurses visit expectant mothers at home before and after their baby arrives for up to two years, providing support during this crucial time in their child’s life.
Williams, a single mother who was overwhelmed and scared when she was expecting her daughter, found comfort in her biweekly visits with Beatty. Through these visits, Williams received counseling and coaching from Beatty, learning everything she needed to know for her daughter’s wellbeing.
Beatty’s role is to support and educate mothers around health topics, teaching them how to advocate for what they need. She explains that access to healthcare and structural racism are significant factors that contribute to the high rates of pregnancy-related deaths among Black women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.
Despite this challenge, Care Ring continues its work through the Nurse-Family Partnership program, aiming to expand it across greater Charlotte area. Through this program, mothers receive much-needed support until their children reach the age of 2.