College Program Aids Incarcerated, Pregnant Women

The Healthy Beginnings Project run by the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, aims to provide support and counseling to incarcerated, pregnant women. The program is operated at seven local correctional institutions. Pregnant women in these facilities are given prenatal vitamins, nutritional advice, and counseling from a registered nurse. The support continues for the women once they have completed their jail time. Data collected from women involved in the program show that they are having babies with higher birth weights than their peers who were not part of the program

William and Mary students have joined the effort by organizing, diaper, food, clothing, and book drives for the women when they are released from prison.

The program is funded by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.