Mighty Little Giants, Inc.

March 2022 Newsletter

What's happening in March?

This month we're celebrating:

• Women's History Month
• National Nutrition Month
• Doula Week (3/22 - 3/28)
• National Doula Day (3/22)
• World Birth Defects Day (3/3)
• International Woman's Day (3/8)
• International Doctor's Day (3/30)

Virtual Support Group Facilitators

Talor is an aunt and cousin/aunt of two toddlers who have opened her eyes even more to motherhood and the beauty of birth. At the age of 14, Talor was diagnosed with PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome), leaving her feeling scared and unsure about her physical abilities to provide for children.

Her determination to understand her own body sparked a curiosity to want to understand even more about women’s health, herbalism and becoming a doula. After graduating from the University of Southern California with her Masters in Social Work, she began obtaining her hours in community mental health. Talor quickly recognized that she did not want to continue with community mental health. This realization re-ignited her passion for women’s health both within mental health and the doula setting.

As a single mother by choice of a child born premature, Ginette has an insider's understanding of navigating the NICU and advocating for a child.  She is passionate about supporting mothers, specifically mothers navigating the health care system. 

Ginette offers a nurturing and humorous approach and knows that having support is vital. She also provides an LGBTQIA affirmative, inclusive safe space for you to explore you. Ginette works to empower you as you navigate life transitions inside and outside of the NICU. She also believes in the intersection of psychotherapy and social change, and see the impact of intergenerational trauma, especially on BIPOC psyches and bodies.

Ebony is a holistic fertility and birth doula, fertility coach, lactation education specialist, certified peer support specialist with a specialty in maternal health and registered nurse by profession.

Ebony is the founder of In Harmony & Health Fertility, Birth, and Wellness a wellness care company with a holistic approach to conception and birth that focuses on healthy pregnancies for healthy families. Nurse Eb focuses on sexual health as the catalyst for optimal conception and birth outcomes. She has a passion for educating families of color and those disproportionately affected by racial disparities in healthcare.

Upcoming Virtual Support Groups

Join NICU Nurse & Holistic Fertility Doula Eb

Every FIRST FRIDAY! Join us on April 1st at 11:00am via zoom to Learn all about the importance of Internal healing after preterm birth, and how to heal mentally and physically after trauma. Listen in from the car, hospital home or at work!

Do you currently have a baby in the NICU, or have recently discharged in need of support? Mighty Little Giants is providing FREE NICU Doula support for moms residing in the Riverside and Los Angeles Counties.

Please view our website to learn more about our doula program.

Current MLG Programs

"When I love you, I love me."

Mighty Little Giants was featured on 

www.BlackInfantsandFamilies.org The “Dear Baby…When I Love You, I Love Me” video series was created for such a purpose. 

CommUNITY Updates

AV AAIMM CAT is proud to sponsor the 2^nd Annual AV Black Maternal Health Expo organized by WOW! Flower. Hope you can join in this in-person event on Sunday, April 10, 2022 at the Chimbole Cultural Center in Palmdale. See picture below or attached flyer. For more info, email [email protected]

 Fatherhood Support Group

Upcoming sessions:

• March 8^th, 15^th, and 29^th, and April 5^th 
• All sessions start at 6:30pm
• Email [email protected] sign up for these virtual meetings

Black Infant Health – The Children’s Collective is hosting a Virtual Enrollment Fair. Please share the flyer with any all! 

P.A.T.H. Training for Providers: Real Talk. Real Options

AAIMM and Essential Access Health presents a new 2-part provider training series that centers reproductive justice and the P.A.T.H. framework for sexual & reproductive health on March 22 from 3-5pm PST. Respectful, culturally attuned care and communication with Black patients/clients of reproductive age can help reduce the rates of Black infant and maternal deaths. Participants will leave with tools to help ensure that reproductive conversations with patients who are Black are empowering, informed and help effectively support them on their sexual and reproductive health journeys.

Sacramento County Black Midwives Scholarship Program (scholarsapply.org)

Sacramento County has opened up their midwife scholarship program again, through April 12, 2022. Please visit the following link to learn more or check out the attached flyer. 

YOU DO NOT need to live in Sacramento to apply.

FUNDING, SCHOLARSHIP AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

• United Nurses Associations of California Scholarship Program:

The UNAC/UHCP Scholarship Program have two scholarships open to students pursuing a career in the healthcare field who will be enrolled in an accredited college, university, trade, or technical school in Fall 2022.

• Alexis G. Philius Scholarship:
• Lack of diversity has significant consequences on health outcomes, health equity for patients and communities of color. UNAC/UHCP has decided to address underrepresentation in health professions with this scholarship.
• For students of Black/African descent pursuing education toward a career in health care
• Five scholarships of $2,000 each
• Delima MacDonald Community Scholarship:
• Delima MacDonald, RN, 30-year UNAC/UHCP Treasurer, taught generations of UNAC/UHCP affiliate leaders the value of a dollar, and ensured they spent union dollars wisely.
• For community members who will be enrolled in a health care degree program
• Five scholarships of $2,000 each

• Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention (GLS): This grant program enhances mental health services for all college students, including those at risk for suicide, depression, serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbances, or substance use. This grant program will fund up to $2.2 million, including $102,000 from the American Rescue Plan, over three years for up to 22 grant awards.



• The Community Programs for Outreach and Intervention with Youth and Young Adults at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (CHR-P): This grant program helps to identify youth and young adults no older than 25 who are at clinical high risk for psychosis and provide evidence-based interventions in a trauma-informed manner to prevent the onset of these conditions. The grant program will fund up to $7.2 million over four years, for up to 18 grantees.