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Chosen Women Empower rebrand services with support from St. David’s Foundation
A Bastrop County nonprofit has expanded its maternal health program to offer free pregnancy and postpartum support to Black mothers Backed by a rural health grant from the St. David’s Foundation, Chosen Women Empower recently launched Chosen Beginnings, replacing its earlier Empowered Beginnings program, which focused solely on doula services. The expanded program adds health monitoring devices that transmit data through a secure mobile app, allowing licensed providers to intervene quickly if health indicators raise concern, according to CEO and founder Chevalier DeShay.
“Now that we have this program exactly how we want it … we’re already seeing changes in mom’s health and what mom is going through,” DeShay said.
New equipment available includes blood pressure monitors, glucometers and activity trackers.
“The funding allowed us to wave our magic wand and create what was needed in rural Texas,” DeShay said.
Staff also screen participants for social factors such as food insecurity, housing instability and utility needs, connecting families with resources as issues arise.
According to DeShay, one of the program’s early findings has been the need to advocate for younger mothers, whose concerns are sometimes overlooked during medical appointments.
“My team has had to step in to advocate for them to get to a place where everybody is feeling heard,” she said.
The organization has already welcomed its first baby under the program and will continue supporting the family through the child’s first year, helping ensure wellness visits are completed and addressing social needs as they come up.
“We’ll still walk with the mom for 12 months post pregnancy,” DeShay said. With the transition to Chosen Beginnings, the nonprofit looks to further shape its unique mission and identity within the community.
“You cannot empower a woman unless you’re empowering every step of her life,” DeShay said. “Our team is always available. Our goal at Chosen Women Empower is truly to create healthy communities.”
All services are provided at no cost through grant funding and community support.
More information can be found at chosenwomenempower.org.
