Perinatal Health Equity Initiative

What Perinatal Health Equity Initiative does

Perinatal Health Equity Initiative (PHEI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2018 in East Orange, New Jersey by Dr. Nastassia K. Harris, a DNP and IBCLC with 19+ years of perinatal nursing experience. The organization addresses the Black maternal and infant health crisis in New Jersey, where Black women die from pregnancy-related complications at 7–8 times the rate of white women and Black infants die in the first year at 3.8 times the rate — the highest racial disparity in US infant mortality. PHEI delivers culturally congruent care 'designed by and for Black women' through a portfolio of six sub-brand programs: Sistahs Who Breastfeed (a 700+ member free peer support group), Mamas in Bloom (free wraparound services in Essex and Union County), Cuff It (preeclampsia risk reduction with BP-cuff provision), D.O.P.E. Mamas (perinatal mental health support), Butterfly Fund ($2,000 grants for families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss), and Tonita's Garden (community mutual aid across 12 municipalities). Service delivery combines in-person lactation consultations, telehealth, group programming, community health worker navigation, and provider-referral pathways; clinical staff includes IBCLCs, CBS-certified specialists, RNs, and a full-spectrum doula team.

PHEI's business model is a hybrid of philanthropic funding and limited fee-for-service revenue. Primary capital inflows are grants from foundations such as the Health Care Foundation of New Jersey, March of Dimes/CVS Health Foundation, Jewish Women's Foundation, and the New Jersey Department of Labor ($90,000 documented in 2023), alongside individual donations (one-time, monthly 'Kitchen Table' recurring giving, and in-kind baby supplies). Programmatic revenue is generated through a sliding-scale pricing structure — lactation consultations at $60–$250, perinatal classes $25–$100, and a 5-week 'Then Came Baby' series $100–$450 — with scholarships available and no income verification required. Aetna is accepted for lactation services, signaling selective payer engagement. The go-to-market motion is community-led: word-of-mouth referrals, healthcare provider referrals via online and paper forms with 24-hour community health worker follow-up, social media community building (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), earned media (PIX 11, CNN, NJ PBS, WNYC), and event-based outreach including Black Breastfeeding Week and Black Maternal Health Week. PHEI does not operate proprietary technology; its stack consists of commodity scheduling (Acuity), email marketing (Mailchimp), case management (Social Solutions Apricot, Mahmee), and standard telehealth. Strategic partnerships with the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (state-level movement partner), SisterSong (Reproductive Justice framework), Newark Beth Israel Hospital, National Black Doulas Association, Montclair State University, and the Nurture NJ / NJ Department of Health ecosystem provide referral pipelines, training sites, research IRB coverage, and policy influence — positioning PHEI less as a service vendor and more as a movement-embedded clinical and advocacy organization.

Name

Perinatal Health Equity Initiative

Legal name

Perinatal Health Equity Initiative

Website

https://perinatalequity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Perinatal Health Equity Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in East Orange, NJ that delivers culturally congruent maternal and infant health services — lactation, doula training, mental health, and mutual aid — to Black mamas in Essex and Union County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal and Infant Health Community Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations (BPAGACAF)

Keywords

• Community health services
• Perinatal lactation support
• Maternal health equity
• Doula training programs
• Postpartum mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

East Orange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: PHEI operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded primarily through individual donations, corporate partnerships, and fundraising campaigns. The organization accepts one-time donations, monthly recurring contributions through the 'Kitchen Table' monthly giving program, and in-kind donations of baby supplies and equipment.
2. Program Revenue: PHEI generates limited revenue through sliding-scale fees for lactation consultations and educational classes. Services are priced on a sliding scale to ensure accessibility, with scholarships available for those who cannot pay.
3. Grant Funding: The organization receives grant funding from foundations including The Health Care Foundation of New Jersey, and participates in funded programs such as the March of Dimes/CVS doula Equitable Access to Doula Care Project that provides scholarships and program support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Perinatal Health Equity Initiative (PHEI) is a Black woman-led nonprofit community organization that delivers direct perinatal support services to Black mamas and birthing people in Essex and Union County, New Jersey. Its core offerings include IBCLC lactation consultations, breastfeeding peer support groups (Sistahs Who Breastfeed), a Mamas in Bloom wraparound program, perinatal mental health support (D.O.P.E. Mamas), preeclampsia risk reduction with blood pressure cuffs (Cuff It), community-based doula training, childbirth education classes, and mutual aid through Tonita's Garden and the Butterfly Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sistahs Who Breastfeed: A FREE mama-to-mama breastfeeding group designed exclusively to support the unique needs of Black mothers.
• Mamas in Bloom
• D.O.P.E Mamas
• Cuff It
• Butterfly Fund
• Tonita's Garden

Products and services

• Lactation Consultation Services 90-minute IBCLC and Certified Breastfeeding Specialist consultations delivered in-person at the East Orange office or via telehealth, with sliding scale pricing from $60 to $250 and Aetna insurance accepted. Designed for Black mothers and birthing people seeking expert breastfeeding support.
• Mamas in Bloom Program Wraparound perinatal program for Black mamas in Essex and Union County, NJ that provides community health worker navigation, baby supplies, transportation assistance, housing referrals, and one-on-one support regardless of income. Funded through grants and donations.
• Sistahs Who Breastfeed Free mom-to-mom breastfeeding support group exclusive to Black birthing mothers, meeting virtually on a 700+ member Facebook group and in-person at the East Orange office. Provides peer support, education, and community building.
• D.O.P.E. Mamas Perinatal Mental Health Support Free monthly virtual perinatal mental health support group (Defying Others' Perceptions and Expectations) for Black mothers, facilitated by a licensed therapist. Meets monthly via Zoom.
• Cuff It Preeclampsia Risk Reduction Preeclampsia risk reduction program that assigns Black mothers a nurse and provides a blood pressure cuff for at-home monitoring, given that Black women are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with preeclampsia.
• Community Doula Training Program Community-based doula training program providing full scholarships to 15 aspiring Black and BIPOC doulas, with training held at Birth Center of New Jersey and Newark Beth Israel Hospital, including mentorship via National Black Doulas Association membership.
• Butterfly Fund Mutual aid fund providing $2,000 grants to Black families after pregnancy/birth-related loss or infant loss before the first birthday. Has supported 5 families to date.
• Tonita's Garden Mutual Aid Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of maternal deaths in NJ are preventable according to state data
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• March of Dimes / CVS Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024PHEI is a proud recipient of the March of Dimes/CVS Health Foundation Equitable Access to Doula Care Project. This initiative provides community-based doula training to 15 aspiring doulas with full scholarship funding. PHEI partners with Newark Beth Israel Hospital as the required training hospital partner to increase doula access at the bedside.
• Newark Beth Israel HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Required hospital partner for the March of Dimes/CVS doula training grant. Provides training site for doula students to increase bedside doula access for patients.
• National Black Doulas AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHEI participants in the doula training program receive paid mentorship subscription through National Black Doulas Association amethyst level agency membership. Training pathway utilizes NBDA curriculum for doulas trained by other programs.
• Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHEI is the movement partner of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance at the state level. Committed to moving BMMA initiatives forward including reproductive justice framework based on principles of: right to have children, right to not have children, and right to raise children in healthy and safe environments.
• SisterSongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHEI operates under the Reproductive Justice framework developed by SisterSong, which informs their advocacy and policy work at the state level.
• Birth Center of New JerseyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining location partner for doula training program. Doula training sessions held on Saturdays at Birth Center of New Jersey, 1945 US-22, Union, NJ 07083.
• Nurture NJ / NJ First Lady Tammy MurphycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHEI team member Melanie Hutton previously served as the first and only Breastfeeding Program Coordinator under New Jersey's Nurture NJ grant, a statewide initiative led by NJ First Lady Tammy Murphy to improve maternal health outcomes.
• Montclair State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for approved studies. Dr. Nastassia Harris serves as assistant professor of Nursing at Montclair State University. IRB approval obtained through MSU for research studies.
• Interfaith Voices for Reproductive JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRB review board for approved research studies including the preeclampsia study conducted by all-Black woman research team including Dr. Nastassia Harris, Dr. Karen Scott, and Dr. Quantrill Ard.
• Hoboken Family PlanningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Black Breastfeeding Week 2026 event - Hoboken Family Planning Team providing free breast and cervical cancer screenings.
• Therapy for Black MomsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for D.O.P.E. Mamas perinatal mental health program. Led by licensed therapist Barbara Neal of Therapy for Black Moms who facilitates the free mental support group.
• Tru DoulaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Black Breastfeeding Week 2026 - PHEI team member Brittany Wright facilitating Breastfeeding Justice presentation at Tru Doula event in Trenton NJ.
• NJ Department of HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHEI team member Judith Jeanty previously managed three statewide doula funded programs and served as coordinator for Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grant at NJ Department of Health.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Black Doulas Association: Organization supporting Black doulas and culturally congruent care; PHEI partners directly with NBDA on doula training curriculum, making it a close operating peer.
• Black Mamas Matter Alliance: National Black women-led alliance of which PHEI is the NJ state movement partner; both center Black maternal health equity, reproductive justice, and policy advocacy.
• Mama Glow Foundation: Maternal health organization offering doula training and perinatal education with an explicit equity lens; comparable training + community-care hybrid model.
• National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC): National nonprofit creating solutions that optimize Black maternal and infant health through training, policy, and research; comparable mission and policy-advocacy model.
• Commonsense Childbirth: Midwifery-led, equity-focused perinatal care model; comparable mission targeting Black maternal outcomes through direct clinical service and education.
• Village Birth International: Birth equity organization providing doula training, lactation support, and community-based perinatal care to communities of color; closely comparable model.
• Ancient Song Doula Services: Black-led doula and childbirth education organization serving communities of color; directly comparable community-embedded model and perinatal equity focus.

Broad incumbents

• Black Women's Health Imperative: National advocacy organization advancing Black women's health equity; comparable health-equity mission though broader than perinatal-only focus.
• Every Mother Counts: Larger, well-funded maternal health nonprofit with grantmaking and advocacy; broader scope and resource base than PHEI but overlapping mission on equitable birth outcomes.

Emerging players

• Mahmee: Tech-enabled maternal health platform providing culturally-concordant perinatal support; intersects with PHEI's wraparound care model but operates via technology at venture scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/perinatalequity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phei
• Instagraminstagram.com/perinatal_equity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Perinatal Health Equity Initiative