A PPN (Perinatal Patient Navigator) is a trained professional who supports patients throughout the perinatal period. Through our PPN program, we train lay persons to serve as navigators who assist Black women in making informed healthcare decisions, improving health outcomes for vulnerable Black women—especially those in rural areas—and promoting patient autonomy by providing linkages across a fragmented care continuum.

Project VOICE leverages CMHE-trained PPNs to employ a patient-centered approach, identifying and reducing barriers to care, including financial, cultural, logistical, and educational challenges. By bridging gaps in the healthcare system, PPNs ensure that patients receive the support and resources they need for healthier outcomes.

Patient navigation improves maternal health by reducing stress, meeting social needs, and ensuring timely care. In Georgia, persistent racial disparities in maternal
outcomes underscore the need for equity-focused care models, though more data is needed to support their adoption.

• Improved mental, physical, and health before, during, and after having a baby.
• Access to local social and health related resources.
• Pregnancy related incentives for attending group sessions!

Women who:

• Identify as Black or African American
• Present for prenatal care prior to 20 weeks’ gestation
• Have a singleton pregnancy
• Plan to deliver at Grady Memorial Hospital
• Available for follow-up through 12 months postpartum

For more information on how to participate, contact Ms. Winnie at Winnie.n.jacobs@emory.edu