Grassroots Education Initiatives

Healthy Beginnings at Home

At https://projectkindy.com, we are committed to promoting healthy beginnings at home for pregnant women who are housing insecure in Indianapolis. We understand that stable housing is essential for the well-being of both the mother and the unborn child. That’s why we offer comprehensive case management, housing navigation, and 24 months of rental assistance to pregnant women in need.

Health Justice Intervention

In collaboration with the Indiana Justice Project, we are dedicated to bringing about systems change in the legal and judicial system to protect the rights of pregnant women and mothers of infants facing eviction. Through community-based Know Your Rights education sessions, strategic litigation, and judicial and legal education, we aim to prevent the unjust eviction of vulnerable women and ensure their access to housing.

Funding Partners

We are grateful for the support of our funding partners, including:

• US Dept. of Health and Human Services
• Indiana Dept. of Health
• CareSource Foundation
• Birge and Held Asset Management
• Riley Children’s Foundation

Supporting Mother/Baby Pairs in Transition

At https://projectkindy.com, we have developed specialized programming to support mother/baby pairs as they transition from the Leath Nursery of the Indiana Women’s Prison to their home community. We understand the unique challenges they face and provide them with an individualized and coordinated system of care.

Our services include:

• Transition support from the Leath Unit to the community
• Infant education and maternal attachment curricula within the Leath Unit to enhance parenting capacity

Funding Partners

We would like to express our gratitude to the following funding partners for their support:

• Indiana Dept. of Health
• Riley Children’s Foundation

Novel Infant and Parenting Education

We believe that every infant deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances. That’s why we are dedicated to building novel infant and parenting education programs within marginalized communities.

Our initiatives include:

Promises of Parenting Program

The Promises of Parenting Program provides evidence-based infant education to mother/baby pairs residing in the Leath Nursery Unit of the Indiana Women’s Prison. We believe that by equipping mothers with the necessary knowledge and skills, we can contribute to positive outcomes for both the mother and the child.

Fort Wayne Infant Education Program

In partnership with the Early Childhood Alliance of Fort Wayne, we are working to build the economic and teaching capacity of early childhood providers in Fort Wayne. This program specifically targets zip codes with poor maternal and child health outcomes. By empowering early childhood providers, we hope to create a nurturing and supportive environment for infants in these communities.

Funding Partners

We would like to extend our gratitude to the following funding partners for their support:

• Early Learning Indiana
• Riley Children’s Foundation

Collaborating with Faith-Based Organizations

We recognize the important role that faith-based organizations play in low-income communities. That’s why we work closely with these organizations to develop programming that addresses the specific needs of mothers, infants, and families they serve.

Funding Partners

We are grateful to the following funding partners for their support:

• Riley Children’s Foundation
• AmeriCorps

Breaking Down Legal Barriers

In partnership with the Indiana Justice Project, we are dedicated to breaking down the legal barriers that prevent women and families from accessing essential services for their health and well-being. We collaborate with a network of legal partners to ensure that everyone has equal access to the support they need.

Funding Partners

We would like to thank the Riley Children’s Foundation for their support in this important work.

Learn More

To learn more about our grassroots education initiatives, we invite you to listen to the Ideas for Practice podcast with guest Jack Turman, Jr., PhD.