East End Birth Network, Inc. (501c3) is a grassroots organization providing education and support for families birthing, parenting, and residing on the East End of Long Island. Advocating for fundamental human and equal rights by identifying inequities and disparities in the birthing and parenting culture through continued community outreach and activism.
They have been running a Birth Circle for a long time, but 2 ½ years ago they launched a Maternal and Infant Mortality Initiative after discovering through the Suffolk County Health Assessment that the east end has one of the highest infant mortality rates in NY state. The East End community is small but mighty and time and again proves to show up in times of need – continued support is needed now more than ever.
CURRENT COVID-19 EFFORTS
EEBN is relied upon to provide a lot of pivotal information for birthing people and their families. During COVID EEBN:
- Moved support groups to an online format where questions can be answered in a timely fashion and updated information can be provided reflecting the Governors changing executive orders.
- Provides large amount of resources and recommendations for local birth workers (doulas, midwives, etc.) because of the increased interests to birth out of the hospital.
- Began advocating for families to be allowed to birth with partners (or one support person) present because at the start of the pandemic hospitals were not allowing any support persons.
- Clarified hospital maternity requirements and policies regarding COVID (each hospital is different) and is continually being updated.
- Started the United Perinatal Support Coalition with a few other LI birth and reproductive justice organizations to provide a hotline and pregnancy support mentors (for free) for people who are pregnant and birthing during the pandemic. You can find more information here: www.eastendbirthnetwork.org/coalition