On February 21, 2024, the Sentara Health Plans Welcoming BabySM Outreach team hosted their first baby shower tailored for Spanish-speaking mothers. Close to 25 expecting mothers across Virginia participated in this virtual event.
The Welcoming Baby Outreach team hosts regular baby showers for Sentara Health Plans Medicaid members. The events provide expecting mothers with vital prenatal, postpartum, and infant health information in a lively and celebratory setting. Recognizing the importance of inclusivity, the Welcome Baby Outreach team expanded its services to accommodate the Spanish-speaking community.
“We have a huge Spanish-speaking demographic in our health plan, and our Welcoming Baby Outreach team works with several Spanish-speaking members regularly,” said Courtney Seaborne, Welcoming Baby marketing and public relations specialist. “Many attend our baby showers, and while we provide translators, due to the huge response of Spanish-speaking members wanting to attend our showers, we thought it would be great to make it a better, comfortable experience using their first language, Spanish.”
Spanish-speaking presenters from the Welcoming Baby Outreach team alongside representatives from Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Virginia Department of Health shared information on the Welcoming Baby program benefits, WIC services, lactation, nutrition,
well-child visits, and immunizations.
“Our team is super passionate and excited about this program, and it’s important for us to do our best to make this event an inclusive and comfortable space for our members to ask questions and be with other members they can relate to,” said Kate Maas, Welcoming Baby marketing development and outreach manager. “Being able to grow our program and continue to service pregnant moms through this journey of delivering happy and healthy babies is our main goal, and this is just another way to serve our community.”
The Welcoming Baby Outreach team was delighted with the turnout and views this event as an effective and enjoyable way to prepare mothers for parenthood. They look forward to hosting additional baby showers in Spanish in the future.