503-988-3387

Healthy Birth Initiatives addresses the needs of pregnant Black and African American women.

It does this by opening up access to health care and providing ongoing support to pregnant Black and African American women and their families before and after birth.

Our classes, Community Action Network meetings and Father Involvement activities are open to everyone. Contact us for more information.

Services

Our services are Afrocentric and include:

  • Individualized, in-home case management
  • Access to community health nurses and other specialists
  • Help with goal planning
  • Respite care
  • Breastfeeding support
  • Discount car seats
  • Family planning
  • Transportation for medical care and health education classes
  • Coordination of care with health care providers and community agencies
  • Ongoing classes and groups

We also serve African immigrant and refugee families through our partnership with African Family Holistic Health Organization (AFHHO).

What are the benefits?

Blacks and African Americans experience rates of infant mortality and low birth weight at levels that unjustly and disproportionately affect their communities. Healthy Birth Initiatives works to achieve healthy birth outcomes by improving the well-being of mothers, fathers and their children before, during and between pregnancies.

Who can receive services?

You may be able to receive services if you:

  • Are pregnant
  • Are Black or African American
  • Live in Multnomah County

How to apply

Call 503-988-3387 to apply or refer a client, or fill out our referral form»

You can also call us to get a schedule of classes and events.


Classes

Portrait of a young black mom, baby and daughter in a rose garden

Healthy Birth Initiatives Class Schedule (1.15 MB)

Prenatal Class

Nutrition, promoting a healthy pregnancy, preparing for breastfeeding and pregnancy complications.

2nd and 4th Mondays, 6-7pm | Thursdays, 12-1pm

Join Zoom meeting»
Meeting ID: 958 9225 5592 | Passcode: PreNat24!

Childbirth Education Class

What to expect in labor. Create a birth plan and learn about labor stages, birth complications, current hospital practices and options.

1st and 3rd Thursdays, 6-8pm

Join Zoom meeting»
Meeting ID: 992 8088 1598 | Passcode: hbiCBE24!

Postpartum & Newborn Class

All things postpartum and newborn care. Includes parent emotional wellness, postpartum health for moms and dads, and newborn development. 

2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 11am-1pm

Join Zoom meeting»
Meeting ID: 930 8112 7104 |Passcode: ^EsSf39

Parent Group

Meet parents with babies close in age. Get answers about what's "normal" for parents and kids. Receive parent and caregivers support for emotional wellness and your baby's development. 

Mondays, 10-11am

Join Zoom meeting»
Meeting ID: 966 2755 0131 | Passcode: &U763MYZ


Father Involvement 

Portrait of black parents and a baby in a rose garden

All activities are free and open to Black American, African immigrant and refugee fathers. You can join and receive support even if the mother is not involved in Healthy Birth Initiatives.

HBI Father Involvement Groups (893.65 KB)

Man Cave Monday

Space for fathers to network and socialize.

3rd Mondays, 6-7:30 pm

Northeast Health Center, 5329 NE MLK Blvd, Conference Room B, Portland

Let That Dad Speak!

Helping fathers achieve the 5 protective factors of fatherhood. We will use 2 videos, "Fathering in 15" and "The Ins and Outs of Fatherhood" as our source materials. Attend online or in person.

2nd Tuesdays, 6-7pm

Location: Northeast Health Center, 5329 NE MLK Blvd, Conference Room B, Portland

Join Zoom meeting»
Meeting ID: 986 7663 4006 | Passcode: fiLTPS!24

The Bridge

Multigenerational community gathering of Black men to discuss life, fatherhood and current events from a variety of perspectives.

3rd Thursdays, 6-8pm

Location: Sharon Seventh-day Adventist Church, 5209 NE 22nd Ave, Portland

Black Fatherhood Collaborative

Brings together the HBI father involvement program, service providers, father-focused organizations, community-based organizations and fathers to educate and support African and African American fathers. Focuses on the 5 protective factors of fatherhood:

  • Parental resilience
  • Social connections
  • Parenting and child development
  • Concrete support in times of need
  • Social and emotional competence of children

3rd Fridays, 2-3pm  

Join Zoom meeting»
Meeting ID: 946 4546 7758 | Passcode: P@C969Fr


Community Action Network

black girl in pink glasses blowing bubbles at a community picnic

3rd Wednesdays | Online and in-person
11am-12:30pm | January, March, May, July, September, November
6-7:30pm | February, April, June, August, October 

Location: Northeast Health Center, 5329 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland

Join Zoom meeting»
Meeting ID: 990 5399 9523 | Passcode: HBIcan24!

A group of parents, community members and organizations untied to confront and overcome social challenges impacting healthy birth outcomes for African American/Black families.

Meetings are open to the public. No meeting in December.

Reading List

Recommended reads for black families»


Contact Us

Healthy Birth Initiatives
5329 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Portland, Oregon 97211
503-988-3387
healthy.birth@multco.us

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am-5pm