Many women in Delaware are at risk of giving birth to babies with dangerously low birth weights or birth defects. Low-income, young, and poorly educated women often do not seek or understand the importance of prenatal care. Some women, particularly teenagers, deny that they are pregnant and delay obtaining care.
Transportation problems are common.
The Resource Mothers Project works with at-risk pregnant women, helping them to obtain early prenatal care and other social services. The Resource Mothers act as mentors and are on-call to their clients 24 hours a day for emergencies. They stay involved through the babies' first year to make sure they receive proper immunizations and have a medical home. Direct services include, but are not limited to, education, transportation, and case management. The Perinatal Association also has Bilingual Resource Mothers across the state to serve Spanish-speaking women and their families by translating and helping them overcome other cultural barriers they face.