Center for Black Women’s Wellness helps women weather pandemic

For the past six months, the Center for Black Women’s Wellness has provided direct support to preserve the health of women and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its COVID Relief Project has provided health supports and essential needs to over 400 families through infant supplies, rent/mortgage assistance, telemedicine and much more.

Sharon’s friend referred her to the Center two years ago, and she has continued to receive her healthcare from the organization ever since. During the pandemic, she has received two telemedicine visits, one to check on her depression and one to review how she was doing with her medication for a recent blood clot. Sharon also received a kit with her medications and supplies delivered to her, so she did not have to leave her home during COVID-19. Sharon said she has had a “great experience” at the Center and will continue care in person when the clinic reopens. She said it is “a good center and I like the way they treat people.” 

In addition to health services, the Center mobilized quickly to respond to the economic impact of COVID-19 by providing financial support. With the close relationships the Center has with women in the community, being able to address income as a social determinant of health during this time has been integral to continuing its commitment to physical, mental and economic health.

Economic hardship is a stark reality for so many during COVID-19, including Tiffany. When asked about what the financial assistance she received meant to her, she said “On June 16, 2020, my world stopped. On that day I received a phone call informing me that my mother had left this earthly home. Not only did I had to go bury my mother, but I was still trying to recover and catch up with the bills from the COVID-19 shutdown. When I got the email and I read I was approved, my heart dropped and I instantly started crying and jumped for joy. Thank you for giving a single mother of three young men another chance to push through this storm.”

The Center received an early grant from the Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund that helped it to implement a telehealth system, extend existing client care plans and provide infant and mother care kits – all important components to build a healthier, stronger community.