06/11/2026
When Alea Martinez became pregnant after years of trying, she was also navigating housing insecurity, recovery from an abusive relationship, mental health challenges and a medically complex pregnancy. Through Mass General Brigham’s Family Partnership Program, she received one-on-one support from Joyce, a community health worker who helped her access food, transportation, healthcare resources and postpartum care.
The Family Partnership Program supports patients with medically complex pregnancies, social needs, and who plan to deliver at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital or Salem Hospital. “One thing that really stands out about this program is that it spans a critical continuum of time for our birthing patients. We’re connecting with patients in early pregnancy, supporting them through birth and continuing to engage with them during that first year postpartum,” said Amaka Onwuzurike, MD, associate medical director for Maternal and Infant Health Equity at Mass General Brigham.
Today, Alea is raising her 8-month-old son, Sincere, while pursuing workforce training in healthcare with dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse. “Family Partners changed my life, and I’m forever grateful,” she said. Learn more in the .
Boston programs show how continuous postpartum care can change mothers lives.
