Community Conversation
Bridging the Gap: Reimagining Maternal Health Through Advocacy and Community
This presentation explores how health advocates can help bridge the gap between clinical care and community-based support in maternal health. Participants will examine how to support families through pregnancy and postpartum using client-centered, respectful, and relationship-based approaches. The session will also challenge attendees to reflect on the language, systems, and assumptions that shape care and how advocates can disrupt barriers that impact outcomes. Grounded in the concept of “the village,” this conversation invites advocates to consider not only what they do, but how they show up for the families they serve.
Learning Objectives:
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- Describe how fragmentation between clinical care and community-based support impacts maternal health experiences.
- Identify at least three strategies health advocates can use to support clients through pregnancy and postpartum in a client-centered and culturally responsive way.
- Examine how language, systems, and personal approaches to care can influence client experiences, and identify one way to apply more equitable and supportive practices in their work.
About The Speaker –
Kendra Smith, Birth & Postpartum Doula
Kendra Smith is a birth and postpartum doula and the “Nurturer in Chief” at Mother Nurture Doula Care LLC, based in Lansing, MI. Her work is rooted in supporting families through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period with a focus on compassionate, client-centered care.
With a background in maternal and infant health, Kendra brings both professional insight and lived experience to her work. She is passionate about helping families navigate complex systems, feel informed in their decision-making, and experience care that is respectful and responsive to their needs.
As a mother of two, Kendra is deeply committed to getting back to “the village” and believes strong support systems are essential to healthier outcomes for parents and babies. Her work centers on bridging gaps in care, amplifying client voices, and fostering a more supportive and equitable maternal health experience for all families.