Listening
MARA is founded on listening. We provide this service to postpartum people and their partners through private, one-on-one listening sessions and public “MARA Listens” events. By holding space and bearing witness without judgment, we learn about the needs of new parents and can be confident that our efforts match the needs and lived experiences of parents in our community.
Labor Support
Labor support helps to center the birthing person, helping them feel safe and protecting the autonomy needed to make the best choices for themselves and their babies. Labor support can include physical, emotional, and spiritual support before and during childbirth. MARA believes in the importance of returning birth wisdom to the community.
Postpartum Support
The Community Postpartum Support Training is intended for established organizations already invested in culturally informed service and the health and well-being of families within their communities. We look at the strengths within existing religious organizations, community groups, and nonprofits and help them understand the needs of pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people in their communities. Given this knowledge, they can mobilize their congregations or organizational membership to decrease social isolation, increase access to services, and optimize maternal health and wellness.
Advocacy
At MARA, we advocate for families by:
Pushing for organizational policy and legislative change to better support birthing people and families.
Identifying ways to better support and empower women and birthing people throughout the perinatal period, and support the development of these efforts.
Connecting with people and organizations interested in this and similar advocacy and service areas to amplify our work.
Collecting stories from those with recent birth experiences to help build a better understanding.
Sharing what we know with the community.