Community Baby Showers Give Expecting Parents a Healthy Start.

When a first-time mother lost her job, she was anxious and unsure how she would provide for her baby. But after spending a couple of hours at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center’s Community Baby Shower event last year, she left with a car seat, diapers, connections to community resources, and a renewed sense of confidence.

“She later said she felt ‘seen, supported, and ready to be a mom,’” recalls Charmaine Ivey, director of population and community health, who leads the Community Baby Shower program with MedStar Southern Maryland.

The experience captures the heart of MedStar Health’s Community Baby Showers: removing barriers and creating welcoming spaces where expecting parents can access resources, education and support. The program now spans two Medstar Health hospitals—MedStar Southern Maryland and MedStar Washington Hospital Center—each tailoring events to meet local needs.

Since the program’s launch in May 2023, MedStar Southern Maryland has hosted two major baby showers, each welcoming more than 500 attendees representing over 250 families. In April 2025, MedStar Health expanded this offer to the Washington, D.C., region, drawing about 100 attendees by meeting families where they are, often at local churches. Community Baby Showers help address challenges such as childcare, financial constraints, limited awareness, and language barriers. In these trusted, stigma-free spaces, parents can access care, connect with others and focus on their new babies.

“Especially for younger moms and single parents, stigma keeps people away from getting services—from accessing healthcare to food resources. The baby showers give us a chance to go out and say, ‘We want you here. You are welcome,” says Veronica Urquilla, community health program manager, MedStar Washington.

Each family leaves with essentials like diapers and car seats—some won through raffles—and connections to additional support.  MedStar Health Departments donate supplies, while church partners collaborate with the Women, Infants and Children program, better known as WIC, and the Department of Health, to provide health education, including breastfeeding support. Similarly, MedStar Southern Maryland provides essential supplies with funding from the Healthy Start Grant and through partnerships with organizations like the Greater D.C. Diaper Bank. Parents meet others navigating similar experiences, exchanging tips and encouragement that foster a sense of belonging.

At the events, families also meet with Community Health Advocates (CHAs), who provide blood pressure checks, postpartum depression screenings, and lactation consultations. Certified nurse midwives and pediatricians answer questions during “Ask the Midwife” and “Ask the Pediatrician” sessions, and the Teen Alliance for Prepared Planning (TAPP) program and other partner organizations offer resources for young parents. CHAs also link families to health centers, obstetric-gynecology (OB/GYN) clinics, and prenatal care providers, even scheduling appointments for those without a provider.

“I am a Washingtonian, so I was raised on some of the same programs,” says Mia Afowerk, a lead CHA with MedStar Health. “When I work with people, I try to understand where they are. I try to build their confidence.” She reflects that, for families in survival mode, “It is important for someone to listen, say ‘I hear you, and this is what you can do,’ not just pass them off.”

These connections extend far beyond the event. CHAs provide ongoing support for up to 18 months, offering diaper distributions, home visits, and referrals that support both physical and emotional health.

Given the success, MedStar Health is investing in program expansion. In 2026, MedStar Southern Maryland plans to add ongoing initiatives including hosting breakout education sessions, increasing fatherhood engagement, and launching smaller “pop-up” baby showers across our communities.

“This program has evolved into a true movement of connection and empowerment,” Ivey says. “What started as one event is now a signature initiative that reflects MedStar Health’s mission to uplift community health.”