NYITCOM at A-State launches expectant mother program this summer throughout region

More than a year ago, Omega Mitchell was pregnant and didn’t know what to expect. The West Memphis native attended an expectant mothers program hosted by NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Delta Population Health Institute (DPHI), and it helped her prepare for the birth of her son.

“There were so many things I just didn’t know about becoming a mom,” Mitchell said. “The program taught me how to talk to my OB/GYN about how I’m feeling to get answers to help me care for myself and my son. I learned to advocate for myself better. I’m so glad I was able to go to the program.”

The DPHI, which serves as NYITCOM at A-State’s community engagement arm, is hosting Maternal Health Learning and Care Communities in three East Arkansas communities this summer. The first took place on May 9 in Forrest City with 14 participants, six of which are currently pregnant. Events are also planned for Marked Tree and Marvell-Elaine.

The program is led by Dr. Brookshield Laurent and Dr. Adrienne Loftis. Laurent is a family medicine physician who is an NYITCOM at A-State faculty member and the founding director of the DPHI, and Loftis is an OB/GYN and assistant professor of clinical medicine at NYITCOM at A-State.

Two sessions are held at each location, and the physicians cover everything from prenatal care, nutrition, labor and delivery, postpartum health, mental wellness, and newborn care.

“Our goal is to promote health equity by ensuring that every mother, regardless of her zip code, has the tools, knowledge, and support she needs for a healthy pregnancy and postpartum experience,” Laurent said. “That includes empowering these women with physical resources to care for themselves and their child, as well as the education to help them understand how to have conversations with their physician about what they’re feeling and experiencing so they can receive the care they need.”

Participants receive a $50 gift card as an incentive for attending, along with access to car seats, pack ‘n plays, breast pumps, and blood pressure monitoring devices.

“All too often, these mothers don’t have the resources to purchase basic items they need to keep their child safe,” said Tiffny Calloway, DPHI’s director of operations. “That’s why programs like these are so important, and we’re humbled at the opportunity to lead them.”

As part of the school’s population health program, medical students assist in the creation of the curriculum for the events and help conduct the health screenings.

“It’s a win-win for everyone,” Laurent said. “Our students learn how to lead events like these and the importance of them, and the attendees receive the education and resources that make a significant impact in their journey to and through motherhood.”

Peer support and community building are also key aspects of the program. The DPHI employs a “Community Champion of Health” in each location where the program is held, and those staffers maintain contact with participants between sessions and at the conclusion of the program.

“It’s extremely important for us to provide these women with contacts in their own communities to continue to support them and connect them with the resources they need,” Calloway said. “We’re not just leaving them to fend for themselves after the sessions end. That’s huge.”

This summer’s events mark the second-consecutive year the DPHI has led maternal health education programs. In 2024, the organization launched the initiative with similar events in Jonesboro, Blytheville, and West Memphis. NYITCOM and the DPHI were able to continue the program thanks to a grant from the Arkansas Minority Health Commission.

“The need for health education in rural Arkansas has never been greater, specifically when it comes to mothers and young children,” Laurent said. “We are incredibly grateful not only for the fact that that these needs are being discussed, but also for the organizations who are financially supporting them and helping us address them.”