As part of our Maternal Health Month series this May, we’re highlighting the voices, organizations, and conversations shaping the future of care for families in New Orleans. Joined by guest host Dr. Lauren LaRose, psychiatrist and host of the Little Brain Campaign podcast, we’re bringing added perspective to these important conversations. Throughout the month, we’re diving into the realities of maternal health, the gaps that still exist, and the people working every day to create safer, more supportive systems for parents.

Chante Lewis is the Senior Director of Program Operations at Clover. We talk with her about how Clover is addressing Louisiana’s maternal health crisis through its Parents as Educators program, a home-based model that equips parents to be their child’s first teacher while also providing critical prenatal and postpartum support. From in-home visits with educators, nurses, and doulas to streamlined access to services like WIC and Healthy Start, this approach is designed to reduce barriers and better support families during and after pregnancy.

We also dive into the real impact this model is having, from dramatic reductions in low birth weight and negative birth outcomes to major improvements in early childhood development. Chante shares how Clover’s wraparound, community-driven care is changing outcomes not just for babies, but for entire families, and why expanding this model across Louisiana could transform maternal health on a larger scale.

Missions Bayou is presented by Comfy Stone, a New Orleans-based video production agency that helps organizations amplify their impact through mission-driven storytelling. The Missions Bayou Maternal Health series is hosted by Maya McGee and Dr. Lauren LaRose. Maya McGee is the Senior Director of Operations at Comfy Stone, where she helps nonprofits clarify and elevate their storytelling to better reflect their mission and impact. Dr. Lauren LaRose is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist and the host of The Little Brain Campaign Podcast. From fundraising videos and social media content to full-scale podcast production, Comfy Stone makes it easy for organizations to share their stories in a way that resonates.

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Website: https://www.littlebraincampaign.com/