Black Parent Initiative

Bpi's together we can (first 1,000 days) home visiting program served 69 Black parents and children with 212 virtual and in-person home visits and a robust array of virtual group offerings designed to both promote child development and build community among participating families. Sacred roots provided Black pregnant women with education, emotional, technical and material support through virtual, in-person and group formats; services covered all periods of a woman's pregnancy journey, from prenatal through postpartum, including breastfeeding. Our sacred roots doula and mobile lactation services program supported 129 portland mothers delivering 133 babies. Our lactation services served 65 women and babies.

Black family resource center provided educational resources and advocacy support, as well as covid-19 relief, housing support, rental assistance, basic needs support and employment services to help clients secure economic stability through employment search and placement. Bpi also provided mental health services to the community. The resource center served upwards of 500 individuals.

Sawubona school program: community education, training and outreach. Focuses on literacy, culturally specific parenting and advocacy. Bpi achieved these goals through our work with parents and students at five portland public schools; programming included one-on-one literacy tutoring for elementary school students and student affinity groups and film-making projects for middle school students. These activities support literacy, positive cultural identity development and family/community connection.fy 2023-2024; focused on two strategies: 1) culturally specific family engagement and 2) cultural identity development and advocacy. Bpi served 116 students with direct services.