Perinatal Health Equity Initiative
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersEast Orange, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Perinatal Health Equity Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- East Orange
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Lactation Consultation Full Rate |
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | General Perinatal Classes |
| Hybrid | Pay-as-you-go | Then Came Baby 5-Week Series |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Mamas in Bloom Program |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Sistahs Who Breastfeed |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Perinatal Health Equity Initiative
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- March of Dimes / CVS Health FoundationcorePHEI 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 HospitalcoreRequired 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 AssociationcorePHEI 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)corePHEI 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.
- SisterSongcorePHEI operates under the Reproductive Justice framework developed by SisterSong, which informs their advocacy and policy work at the state level.
- Birth Center of New JerseyminorTraining 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 MurphycorePHEI 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 UniversityminorResearch 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 JusticeminorIRB 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 PlanningminorPartnership for Black Breastfeeding Week 2026 event - Hoboken Family Planning Team providing free breast and cervical cancer screenings.
- Therapy for Black MomsminorPartnership 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 DoulaminorCommunity 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 HealthminorPHEI 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
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative social profiles
Digital presencePerinatal Health Equity Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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Perinatal Health Equity Initiative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Perinatal Health Equity Initiative
What does Perinatal Health Equity Initiative do?
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.
Is Perinatal Health Equity Initiative a public or private company?
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Perinatal Health Equity Initiative founded?
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Perinatal Health Equity Initiative based?
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative is headquartered in East Orange, United States, in the North America region.
How does Perinatal Health Equity Initiative make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are program Revenue and grant Funding.
Who are Perinatal Health Equity Initiative's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Black Doulas Association, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Mama Glow Foundation, National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC), Commonsense Childbirth, Village Birth International and Ancient Song Doula Services. Broad incumbents are Black Women's Health Imperative and Every Mother Counts. Mahmee is listed as an emerging player.
Does Perinatal Health Equity Initiative have an API?
No public API is recorded for Perinatal Health Equity Initiative.
What industry is Perinatal Health Equity Initiative in?
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative's product category is Maternal and Infant Health Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAF, Maternal, Child & Family Health Organizations. Its NAICS code is 6241 and its SIC code is 8300.