Perinatal Patient Navigator Training Program

This project will train lay persons to serve as perinatal patient navigators to assist Black women in making informed healthcare decisions, improve health outcomes of vulnerable Black women, especially those in rural areas and promote patient autonomy by providing linkages across a fragmented care continuum. Acknowledging the important role fathers play in reducing inequities in pregnancy outcomes, we will engage and train fathers as patient navigators. Patient navigators will enhance patients’ access to care (i.e., help patients manage appointments), promote patient self-efficacy (i.e., connect patients to community perinatal resources for support, housing, food, transportation), and sustain engagement with the healthcare system (i.e., bridge obstetric care and primary care). Further we will be using outcomes and evidence to support state and federal legislation on coverage of Patient Navigation/doula services under the full range of private and public insurance programs, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), TRICARE, and others.