Sister Friends Tallahassee Birthing Project

As the premier, African American woman-led maternal and child health grassroots, non-profit organization in the country, The Birthing Project USA (BPUSA) mission is to shepherd, support, and improve the health status of women of color by assisting local and global communities in addressing the systemic causes of their lack of well-being.

The Sister Friends Tallahassee Birthing Project brings the Sister Friend model to our community to address the challenge of a mother’s lack of knowledge or understanding about causes and ways to prevent unhealthy pregnancies and birth outcomes. The program will allow women who understand their community resources to be a link between these resources and women who need those resources.

We are currently recruiting volunteers to fill the role of a Sister Friend. You can find more information about the volunteer position through the link below. We are also recruiting Little Sisters for the program. For more information, click on the sections below.

Sister Friend - Information & Volunteer Form

Volunteer Position Summary:

The Birthing Project USA refers to each volunteer who agrees to mentor a pregnant teen or woman as a “Sister Friend”. The Sister Friend reports to and is under the direct supervision of the Program Manager and Volunteer Coordinator. The Sister Friend is responsible for meeting with Mom and assessing her needs at every point of her pregnancy and for the first year of life of her baby. In addition, the Sister Friend will fill out all data collection forms with Mom and send forms to the Program Manager and Volunteer Coordinator. She will also be responsible for connecting Mom to community resources when possible, assessing Mom’s health care needs, attending doctor’s visits or arranging transportation when possible and attending the Baby Shower with Mom. The initial time commitment for this position is an average of 5 hours per week for 18 months.

Volunteer Position Functions:

Visits with Mom in person and over the phone or email
Provides friendship and support to Mom
Maintains client records safely and securely, including information related to prenatal/postpartum visits and well-baby visits, including immunizations
Conducts initial home visit (with Program Manager and Volunteer Coordinator) to assess the needs of expectant mothers
Provides community resources to Mom
Complies with HIPPA regulations
Attends baby showers, monthly meetings and other related group events

If you are interested in attending an upcoming informational meeting about becoming a volunteer Sister Friend, please complete the contact form below.

Little Sister - Information & Program Participant Form

To be eligible for enrollment all you need to do is:

Be pregnant at the time of enrollment
Accept the Sister Friends Tallahassee Birthing Project “Sister Friend” program
Be willing to share your appointment dates and times with your volunteer Sister Friend

Expectations of the Little Sister:

Make sure you have a prenatal provider
Comply with prenatal appointments and instructions
Attend prenatal and childbirth preparation classes
Avoid or decrease smoking, alcohol or drug use
Utilize necessary support services
Communicate with your “Big Sister” regularly, at a minimum weekly
Develop a birth plan
Develop a Family Planning Plan for birth spacing
Allow “Big Sister” to witness the birth of the baby
Get baby immunized on schedule
Take your baby for well-baby check-up regularly
Notify us if your phone number or address changes
Share all your prenatal appointments and your baby’s appointments with your “Big Sister” so that she can help you keep track of them

*All information shared with your “Big Sister” and the Program Manager will be kept confidential. All staff and volunteers are expected to comply with HIPPA regulations.

If you are interested in participating in the Sister Friend Tallahassee Birthing Project, please complete the contact form below.