The three-year grant from the William Penn Foundation will be used to develop the Temple Thriving Program, a trauma-informed initiative that integrates caregiver and early childhood support directly into prenatal and postpartum care at Temple Women's Hospital.
Temple officials said the program is designed to meet the needs of under-resourced families by providing support during prenatal and postpartum visits, eliminating the need for additional appointments, and reducing transportation challenges.
The program will also include peer-to-peer group settings.
"New moms low on resources experience a greater degree of stress when they have to balance the needs of caring for themselves and a new child," said Sharon Kurfuerst, director of Temple Women & Families. "We know they often feel unprepared, and these resources will close that gap."
Amy Lynch, an occupational therapist, said peer support can help families feel less isolated.
"When you're talking to other people, and they encounter the same things. You don't feel alone, and you feel more empowered to be able to make that change," Lynch said.
The goal of the Temple Thriving Program is to help about 800 families over the next three years.