At Sistas Caring 4 Sistas (SC4S), a community-based doula collective founded by women of color in Asheville, the mission has always been clear: to ensure that every mother, regardless of income, race or ZIP code, has access to compassionate, culturally competent and professional birth support.

Today, that mission is expanding farther than ever before. In partnership with the Community Health Network, which convenes six Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) across Western North Carolina, SC4S is working to assess and respond to the growing maternal and mental health needs of the region. The recent closure of regional hospitals, OB/GYN clinics and maternity wards has left many rural communities without critical perinatal care. When the devastation of hurricane Helene further disrupted existing services, the gap in maternal care deepened, especially for families already struggling to access consistent prenatal support.

Recognizing the urgency, SC4S has taken its childbirth education and doula services directly into rural counties — including Mitchell, Madison, McDowell, Avery and Yancey —  to restore access to professional care in under-resourced communities.

“For many women of childbearing age in our region, traveling miles for prenatal visits or to give birth isn’t just inconvenient; it’s a financial and emotional burden that no family should have to bear,” says Sheneika E. Smith, executive director.

One clear area of need has emerged: the demand for bilingual doulas to better serve Spanish-speaking families throughout Western North Carolina. SC4S is actively recruiting, training and onboarding bilingual doulas who can meet families where they are — in both language and culture.

“Language should never be a barrier to safe and empowering birth experiences,” Sheneika says. “Every family deserves to be heard and understood throughout their journey to parenthood.”

SC4S plans to expand support to Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking families, ensuring that every mother in the community can access care in the language they trust most.

The work of SistasCaring4Sistas continues to be guided by compassion, equity and a deep belief in the power of community.

In a time when so many systems are closing their doors, SistasCaring4Sistas is opening new ones — one mother, one family and one community at a time.

Go to Sc4s.org. to make a donation and help their initiatives.