Cope the JJ Way

Community Outreach Perinatal Education

COPE – The JJ Way®\.

A new training program is working to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes and to reduce disparities in perinatal health. The Community Outreach Perinatal Education program (COPE- The JJ Way®) combines practical doula, childbirth educator and lactation educator training that has the power to influence women, their babies, and their communities.

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The JJ Way® is a Maternal Child Health (MCH) system developed by midwife Jennie Joseph with an over-arching goal to eliminate racial and class disparities and improve birth outcomes. COPE – The JJ Way® education provides ACCESS to perinatal education for paraprofessionals and professionals alike; creates CONNECTIONS between clients, staff, agencies and community; increases KNOWLEDGE about the impact of improved health on disparities; and EMPOWERS providers to excel in their service delivery by increasing job satisfaction and encouraging leadership.

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The purpose of the Community Outreach Perinatal Education program is to improve and promote healthier outcomes for women and babies, and to reduce disparities in perinatal health. Participants that complete the program become Certified Perinatal Educators (CPE) through Joseph’s Florida licensed midwifery training program. They are then empowered to enter their communities and provide comprehensive perinatal education; support for pregnant women and their families; and breastfeeding education and intervention of breastfeeding problems.

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The JJ Way® has proven successful. In a study conducted in 2007-2008, The JJ Way® clients were 42% less likely to have a preterm baby, 46% less likely to have a low birth weight baby, and 32% less likely to have a cesarean section in comparison to the averages for Orange County, Florida.