“It’s like having a mom with you there all the time,” said Pamela Young, who brought her 6-month-old son Aidan to Monday’s noontime “Save DC Kids” rally at the Wilson Building. “The DC Healthy Start program has been with me for my last two children” said the young mother. “They’ve become my second family and I’d be absolutely devastated” if the program closes down at the end of the year, as currently planned. AFGE Local 2978 represents most of the workers affected and is negotiating to keep the program viable...
“For over 20 years, Healthy Start has been the trusted resource that addresses racial and health disparities for pregnant women in high risk communities,” said DC Healthy Start Community Consortium Board member Melinda Fallen. “To abruptly end services may risk the achievement of the District’s lowest infant mortality rate ever.” The DC Nurses Association also supports the program.
- photo by Chris Garlock
- photo by Chris Garlock