New mothers navigate many new responsibilities, questions and unexpected challenges. Having access to the right resources and a supportive community can make a meaningful difference during this time.
Students at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Ellmer School of Nursing at Old Dominion University are learning how nurses can help meet those needs through a partnership with Urban Baby Beginnings (UBB), a Virginia-based nonprofit working to transform maternal and infant care through community-rooted hub systems.
As part of their community health clinical rotation, students work alongside UBB to connect new mothers at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with the organization's maternal and infant health resources. Students also participate in Sister's Keeper, a monthly support group, where they engage directly with mothers, provide health education, distribute essential supplies such as diapers and, occasionally, lend a hand holding some of the group's youngest participants.
Alexis Caudell, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) student, recalls attending her first Sister’s Keeper gathering. She was struck by the close relationships among the mothers and the sense of community fostered by the organization's staff.
"They were like one big family, and hearing them share stories about how Urban Baby Beginnings has helped them made me proud to be a part of their story," Alexis said.
The mothers' appreciation for the students' support left a lasting impression, inspiring Alexis to consider pursuing community health work alongside her future clinical practice.
The experience has also changed how she thinks about the relationship between healthcare and the environments in which families live.
"In the hospital, we prepare patients to return to their home lives after discharge, but community health workers and nurses help shape those environments outside of the clinical setting so that health can continue to be promoted," Alexis said.
Holly Tenaglia, D.N.P (M.S.N. ’20, D.N.P. ’21), clinical assistant professor at the Ellmer School of Nursing at Old Dominion University, said the experience helps students recognize the many factors affecting patients beyond the clinical setting.
"They've seen firsthand how far moms travel, how much they have to juggle to meet their needs as well as those of their babies and other family members, and the overwhelm that they feel before joining Urban Baby Beginnings' community," said Dr. Tenaglia. "It has also given them some amazing practice in therapeutic communication and meeting patients where they are."
Founded by Stephanie Spencer, B.S.N., RN, Urban Baby Beginnings addresses maternal and infant health disparities across Hampton Roads by helping families navigate barriers such as transportation, healthcare access, behavioral health and basic family needs. Through its Maternal Health Hubs, hospital partnerships and ReByrth virtual services, the organization creates a network of support for families during pregnancy and postpartum.
Spencer sees the partnership with Old Dominion University as an opportunity to strengthen connections between nursing education and community-based maternal healthcare, while helping prepare future nurses to better understand and address the needs of mothers and families.
"Some of the most important lessons in healthcare happen outside hospital walls, where families navigate the realities of everyday life," Spencer said. "It is especially meaningful to mentor nursing students and help them understand how community-based organizations serve as essential partners in improving health outcomes."
Beyond their direct interactions with mothers, students are also exploring ways to expand awareness of UBB's services through community outreach projects and new partnerships. As the collaboration grows, Dr. Tenaglia hopes students will play an increasingly active role in the organization’s work, including its telehealth initiatives, research and maternal health advocacy efforts.
For ODU, partnerships like this provide opportunities to connect classroom learning with the needs of the communities nurses will ultimately serve. Students gain practical experience and a deeper understanding of maternal health disparities, while helping strengthen the network of support available to mothers and babies across Hampton Roads.
As Spencer puts it, "Healthcare does not begin or end with a clinical encounter." Through its partnership with Urban Baby Beginnings, Old Dominion University nursing students are learning what that means, one conversation, one connection and one family at a time.