April 16, 2026
Media Contact: Erin E. Perkins, erin.perkins@vdh.virginia.gov
Every Family Deserves a Healthy Start
Rappahannock Area Health District Supports Healthy Pregnancies During Black Maternal Health Week
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Pregnancy is often a time of joy and uncertainty. During Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17, the Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) is working to help more families experience safe, supported, and healthy pregnancies.
Black women are twice as likely to die from a pregnancy-associated cause compared to White women, and are more likely to die from cardiac-related causes. Doulas, Community Health Workers (CHWs), and the Women Infants and Children (WIC) programs provide support and connect families to healthcare, nutritious food, as well as items needed to support healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
“The Rappahannock Area Health District is committed to helping address this significant health disparity,” says RAHD Health Director Rachel Stradling. “This stark difference in maternal health outcomes is not simply a statistic, but rather a call to action. By investing in evidence-based supports like doulas, WIC, and CHWs, we are actively working to change outcomes for all families in our region. “
RAHD offers several services that can help families thrive through the work of its Maternal and Child Health CHW, as well as its support of certified doulas. These trusted individuals understand different cultures and beliefs, helping to eliminate disparities in care. They teach pregnant women about childbirth and are trained to coach families through the emotional and physical process of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. They can also help connect people to resources, such as healthy food, and assist with navigating the healthcare system.
The WIC Program is designed to give children the very best beginning through nutrition education and counseling, healthy eating habits, and access to healthy foods and healthcare. Breastfeeding support and referrals are offered to women throughout pregnancy and continue after delivery until they have stopped breastfeeding their infants. Pregnant women and children (up to age five) who qualify receive monthly food benefits, such as eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, whole grains and cereals on their eWIC cards. RAHD served 4,650 WIC clients last year, with more than 1,200 of those families identifying as Black. Participants in the WIC program have improved birth outcomes and increased breastfeeding rates. To be eligible for the program applicants must show they have a financial need and nutrition risk.
These programs help every family get a healthy start. Families can sign up for any one of the services by calling their local health department. Contact information and office addresses for all health department locations within the RAHD can be found by visiting Local Health Departments – Rappahannock
“Programs like WIC, certification of community doulas, and CHWs are supporting families through access to nutrition and breastfeeding support, as well as pregnancy and postpartum education and resources, helps close the gap in maternal health outcomes and ensures every Black mother has the chance to thrive,” said RAHD Public Health Nutritionist Supervisor Sr. and WIC Coordinator Davida Mensah.
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