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Black Maternal Health

Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) Harris County is an integrated care-coordination model that works to improve outcomes for vulnerable individuals through a multi-interdepartmental disciplinary team called a Care Coordination Team. The team focuses on supporting clients holistically by addressing multiple needs to achieve well-being and self-sufficiency.

ACCESS Harris County works with community members experiencing hardships, including health challenges (physical and/or mental), financial and housing needs, substance abuse, and social inequity by providing intensive, wraparound support across Harris County’s safety net system.

The ACCESS Harris County aims to improve the health, well-being, sustained recovery, and self-sufficiency of Harris County’s most vulnerable residents impacted by violence.

Are you a mother or an expecting mother?

Black Maternal Health awareness has evolved as an essential element to reduce the danger, bring awareness, protect, support, and empower women as they navigate the wonders of life and birth.

Black women are three to four times more likely to die during delivery due to pregnancy-related difficulties. Statistics show that Black women are also twice as likely to lose an infant due to premature death.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

COHORT PROGRAMMING:

  • Health Education Workshops: Empowering parents and expectant persons through education and support for healthy behaviors during and after pregnancy.
  • Maternal Care: Providing comprehensive care to support healthy pregnancies, safe deliveries, and the well-being of babies.
  • Wrap-around Services: Offering increased resources, assistance, and social engagement in the community to address individual needs.
  • Housing, Shelter, and Food Programs: Ensuring access to stable housing, shelter, and food for persons and new parents.
  • Health and Safety Agency Partnerships: Collaborating with agencies to improve health outcomes and promote a safe environment for birthing parents and babies.

BMH provides eligible mothers with

  • Health education workshop
  • Maternal care
  • Wrap-around services
  • Increased resources and assistance
  • Social engagement in the community
  • Pro-Social activities
  • Housing, shelter, and food programs
  • Health and safety agency partnership  

Who is eligible?

To enroll, email use the contact button above

  • Pregnant Women/African American women
  • Mothers with an infant under 12 months of age
  • 16 years of age or older
  • Harris County residents
  • Services are at no cost for any eligible participants, no matter their income

Services Provided

ACCESS Harris County provides program participants with connections to community service providers addressing:

  • Transportation assistance
  • Healthcare enrollment services
  • Food assistance
  • Financial assistance
  • Technology resources
  • General health and wellness
  • Legal assistance
  • Refugee and immigration assistance
  • Housing and shelter
  • Senior resources
  • Maternal and child services
  • Job assistance, training, and continuing education
  • Life skills training
  • Mental health services
  • Substance abuse counseling
  • Dietary services
  • And much more!

Partner Agencies

ACCESS Harris County is a division housed in Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and includes other community Safety Net Partners aimed at serving the county's most vulnerable community members. Other participating departments and community organizations include:

  • Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County
  • Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD
  • Harris County Department of Education
  • Harris County Juvenile Probation Department
  • Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department
  • Houston Housing Authority
  • Harris County Public Health’s Community Health and Violence Prevention Services Division
  • Harris County Resources for Children and Adults
  • Harris Health System
  • Harris County Sheriff’s Office
  • Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity
  • Harris County Public Library
  • Clothed by Faith