WEEKLY UPDATE: 03/26/26
As part of the organization’s ongoing work to enhance maternal health outcomes in Connecticut, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF) featured a screening of the new documentary Bloom and moderated a panel discussion with local leaders working at the intersection of community-based care and public policy.
Panelists included Janet Stolfi Alfano of The Diaper Bank of Connecticut (DBCT), Ayesha Clarke of Health Equity Solutions, and Cynthia Hayes of DoulaTogether, Inc. Presented as part of the Norwalk Film Festival, Bloom follows four doulas making reproductive care safer and more accessible in their community and explores how doula-supported births may reduce maternal and infant complications and improve patient satisfaction with the birthing experience.
The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) proudly partners with FCCF, through the Fund For Women & Girls’ Black Maternal Health Initiative (BMHI), to develop a hospital-based doula-clinician educational program and identify opportunities for increased doula-clinician collaboration. CHA has engaged perinatal care providers and doulas across the state to co-create a curriculum and resource toolkit to be implemented in birthing hospitals in Fairfield County.
At the event, CHA provided information and resources on additional ongoing statewide initiatives to improve maternal health, including the recently launched Connecticut Urgent Maternal Warning Signs Bracelet Initiative.
