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Affordable Healthcare in Broome County for Families through the Mothers and Babies Network

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When we had a guest speaker come into class last Thursday, I was surprised by some of the data presented in the Broome County Needs Assessment. Broome County's poverty rate had almost doubled from 2000 to 2013, the opioid epidemic was getting worse, and the need for adequate healthcare was becoming a more pressing issue. These weaknesses in the local community can be alleviated with the help of the Mothers and Babies network. 

Mothers and Babies Perinatal network is a non-profit organization that serves the seven-county region of south-central New York, which includes: Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga and Tompkins counties. The Mothers and Babies network aims to improve pregnancy & birth outcomes and to support the health and development of individuals and families by providing a variety of critical services. These services include (but are not limited to): prenatal/perinatal information, referral, education and support, support & education for parents of infants and toddlers, and teen pregnancy prevention education and support, and access to health insurance.

This organization is important because of its focus on families and family health. By providing services such as free STD testing, aid in signing up for health insurance, and finding a primary doctor, the Mothers and Babies Network serves members of the community that may not be able to afford healthcare. Broome County and its surrounding areas have high poverty rates, as reflected in the Broome County Needs Assessment we discussed in last Thursday’s class. Binghamton’s poverty rate has increased from 29.1% to 47.3% from 2000 to 2013, and healthcare assistance programs are more important now than ever. The services provided by Mothers and Babies can help ensure that people in the Broome County area have access to adequate healthcare, which I believe is a right that all people are entitled to.


I believe that everyone has a right to some sort of healthcare. It’s stated in the preamble that the purpose of the constitution is to “promote the general welfare” of US citizens while giving people the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This entails having the well-being necessary to live life and pursue happiness, which is why I recognize that all people have the right to adequate healthcare. I want to raise money for the Mothers and Babies network in hopes of bettering the Broome County area through providing health and perinatal care to those who need it most, and I hope that you, my classmates will want to do the same. 

Comments

  1. Becca MarcusFebruary 13, 2019 at 8:45 PM

    This sounds like a wonderful organization! I wonder what exactly their teen pregnancy prevention looks like. I know the importance of sex education, and I hope they provide comprehensive sex ed. It's important to actually reach into these communities and teach safe sex beyond abstinence. I have done a lot of research into this type of work, and there is a lot of evidence about what methods are most effective for these types of family planning goals. I think it's important we hold organizations to a researched standard. There are always methods to improve care, so I find it's best when organizations acknowledge this and try to continuously assess themselves. I know the importance of contraception as well as pre- and peri-natal care, so I definitely see why you would support this organization. I can't wait to hear more about them!

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  2. Connor CruzFebruary 14, 2019 at 4:28 PM

    The Mothers and Babies Perinatal Care Network seems like a noble organization to support. It also seems currently like a very prevalent need within the community. Especially with programs similar to this like Planned Parenthood being defunded within the recent months. Regardless of political leaning the extreme diversity in the services of this organization should encourage all to supporting their efforts. The services this organization provides is filling a widening gap of need in the prenatal and sex health fields. This organization's wide spread support from education and testing to consultation and assessments reaches a large and low prioritized population within New York's southern tier. This program responds to and aids the impoverished populations that are unable to afford the sex education and heath care from private organizations. I look forward to seeing if they obtain funding!

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