Syrian Community Network (SCN), located in Chicago, works alongside refugees and immigrants, who have come to Illinois from across the world, to build a sense of belonging in community and agency in their own lives. This Ramadan, I am raising funds specifically for their programs for mothers. For every $3 we raise together, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will donate another $1. Let’s make a change in the lives of moms and their babies!

Mothers are the foundation of our families.

SCN’s Case Management program directly helps pregnant and postpartum moms through individualized service plans. You likely know how complicated our healthcare system can be. And as a newcomer to this country, it can feel impossible to navigate aline. SCN’s Case Managers help moms access health insurance, find a doctor, make appointments, and interpret when needed. They also just hired a new Field Case Manager who focuses on the most vulnerable in our community, including pregnant women, to meet them in their homes, assist them in getting to healthcare appointments, and provide crisis intervention.

They are committed to providing refugee and immigrant mothers with the proper care and support necessary to allow them, and subsequently our communities, to thrive.

Giving life to our mothers gives life to our communities.

Their Women's Support Circle provides a safe space for women to discuss important topics to them in their own language and in a context sensitive to their cultural and religious backgrounds. It is critical to take care of mothers’ mental health at the same level as their physical health. The stress of becoming a new mother or adding another baby to the family can lead to postpartum depression and anxiety. But having someone to talk to, who gets it, can make all the difference! At the Support Circle, women can talk about the specifics of their healthcare needs and receive peer support in the prenatal and postpartum periods.

SCN goes above and beyond to ensure that moms and their babies are healthy and happy!