This kind of exchange is not uncommon for the relationships cultivated by McFarlane and the six women who work alongside her. As trained maternal and child health educators, they guide and support new and expectant families in San Diego County through the uniquely challenging and personal experience of pregnancy and postpartum.

To them, this is more than a job; it’s a quest to sustain life.

Many of their program participants — primarily Black women — are nearly three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications.

The National Institutes of Health highlights that adverse maternal health outcomes for Black women are significantly influenced by systemic racism within the health care system. Disturbingly, over 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Factors such as implicit bias, a widespread lack of understanding of health impacts on Black individuals, disparities in care standards, and toxic stress make navigating the health care system a life-threatening ordeal for many pregnant Black women. Such inequities leave many traumatized and distrustful of health care institutions. In response to these alarming statistics and the urgent need for health care policy reform, Global Communities designed its Healthy Start program to address gaps in care and support.

Founded in 2007, Global Communities’ Healthy Start program (“Healthy Start”) aims to improve health outcomes before, during and after pregnancy and reduce disparities in infant death and adverse perinatal outcomes. Since its inception, the program has provided maternal and child health services and education to over 6,000 mothers, fathers, babies and same-sex partners.

Funded by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, Healthy Start employs a client-centered approach to deliver lifesaving care such as prenatal and childbirth education, postpartum assistance and breastfeeding support, prioritizing Black families and immigrant communities in San Diego County. Participants also have access to midwifery and doula services, among other resources.

While these services may seem basic to some, they are transformative for the communities served by the program. With the support of Perinatal Navigators, the program has achieved significant milestones in advancing the health and well-being of families in San Diego.

In 2023 alone, the dedicated team completed over 2,600 home and telehealth visits, a meticulous process where Perinatal Navigators ensure participants have access to essential education, resources and tools vital for their newborns' well-being.

Lisa Bain, Senior Director of Global Communities’ U.S. Programs, describes the unique bond between Perinatal Navigators and participants that sets Healthy Start apart in San Diego.

"In most health care settings, a person goes to a medical office and will be seen by whoever is available. In our model, we go to the homes of our families, and the same person provides support from pregnancy well into postpartum," Bain says. "That consistency and that long-term relationship form the basis of the comfort and the trust that then allow us to achieve better health outcomes."