2007-2009
- BirthMatters received a planning grant from the Mary Black Foundation
- Spartanburg Regional Healthcare Foundation housed BirthMatters
- BirthMatters conducted focus groups, visited existing doula programs in Atlanta and Pittsburgh, collected data and submitted grants during planning
- Committed to serving young mothers younger than 20 years old
2009-2010
- Partnered with ReGenesis Health Care. BirthMatters became a program of ReGenesis Health Care
- Secured funding from S.C. Competitive Grant, Spartanburg Regional Foundation, Longleaf Holdings LCC and Mary Black Foundation
- Offered DONA (Doulas of North America) training to 10 women in Spartanburg
- The trained BirthMatters doula team supported over 30 mothers and families with birth doula services with good outcomes.
- Partnered with HealthConnect One to replicate their community based doula program
- HealthConnect One trained 6 trainers to provide the community doula training in Spartanburg
- Provided opportunities for interested women living in the Southside community to commit to the 20 week community doula training
- Started the community based training at Cornerstone Baptist Church
- Celebrated completion of community based doula training with a six graduates
2011
- BirthMatters doulas in Spartanburg and Cherokee County supported over sixty families with doula services, with a total of 750 prenatal sessions and 370 postpartum sessions
- Secured federal funding from HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) to expand services in Cherokee County
- Completed the replicated twenty session Community Doula Training in Cherokee County and Spartanburg County
- Hired three full time community doulas to serve first time moms in Cherokee County
- The BirthMatters team attended the HealthConnect One training in Washington, D.C.
- Presented at two conferences. HealthConnect One and APHA (American Public Health Association)
- BirthMatters team attended the SC Campaign to Prevent Team Pregnancy conference and the Children’s Trust conference
- Completed the HealthConnect One replicated ten session peer breastfeeding training to increase knowledge for staff to ensure improved breastfeeding rates
- In August, BirthMatters hosted a community wide event to raise awareness on the benefits of breastfeeding at the Spartanburg County Library
- Provided breast pumps to twenty moms to help increase long term breastfeeding rates
- BirthMatters expanded their services to include the teen pregnancy prevention program, What Could You Do?
- Secured funding from United Way, S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Mary Black Foundation
2012
- BirthMatters became an independent non profit by receiving 501 (c) 3 status on July 29, 2012
- BirthMatters doulas in Spartanburg and Cherokee County supported fifty-three families with doula services, with a total of 1087 prenatal sessions and 963 postpartum sessions
- Served 120 young girls in Spartanburg County with teen pregnancy prevention program
- Secured new funding from March of Dimes and United Way
2013
- Secured new funding from Women Giving and Spartanburg Regional Foundation
- Continued funding from United Way, Mary Black Foundation, March of Dimes, and S.C. Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy