
Community Perinatal Pathways, Inc. is a nonprofit, grassroots organization that is committed to improving maternal and child health outcomes in Northern Indiana by addressing issues at the individual, birth worker, community, and systems levels.
The Issue
The Northern Hospital Region including LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, and Marshall Counties has the highest infant mortality rate in the state, and Black babies are dying at 2-3 time the rate of white babies.
Research Shows
Black and Brown pregnant persons that are provided culturally aligned and client centered perinatal care have better health outcomes.
Individuals
Birth Workers
System
Community
Local Challenges
Black and brown pregnant persons in the Northern Hospital Region do not have access to culturally aligned, client-centered perinatal care due to low numbers of local Black and Brown birth professionals
Barriers to birth work careers and high burn out rates have kept the number of Black and brown birth professionals low.
Hospitals and perinatal health care organizations are struggling with how to integrate doulas and other community birth workers into their services and systems.
The community does not recognize the value of using a Reproductive Justice framework to address birth equity.
Our History
Community Perinatal Pathways, Inc. was founded on April 1, 2024, in response to the closure of the community doula program that the founders had previously developed under Goodwill Industries of Michiana. After exploring various options for how to continue our work in maternal health, we decided the best path forward was to create an independent, black led nonprofit with a primary focus on maternal health and community birth work supporting the BIPOC population.
Expanding current services and parent education is not enough to decrease the high rates of infant mortality, maternal morbidity, and disparate health outcomes experienced by the local BIPOC population. We believe it is imperative to include the voice of the people being served in the planning and delivery of services and that we can more effectively initiate change from outside the system than from within. The lessons learned over the last 4 to 5 years and the relationships we have developed locally and nationally in the realm of maternal health have prepared us to take a leadership role in establishing new pathways to achieve better maternal and child health outcomes in Northern Indiana.
Our Vision
We want to see widespread awareness of maternal health issues within the BIPOC communities across Northern Indiana with more women of color taking active roles in the perinatal health care system as informed consumers, providers, and advocates.
- We envision BIPOC birthing persons having full access to quality, culturally congruent, community-based models of care.
- We envision Black birth workers having the support necessary to achieve a sustainable career and a living wage as they provide services to families with low income who cannot afford to pay for birth support services.
- We envision a perinatal health care system where Black Birth Professionals that provide community birth support services are respected members of the perinatal health team.
- We envision Black women leading a movement to improve maternal health care in Northern Indiana where they are welcomed as valued decision-makers in health care spaces.
Our Mission
Our mission is to develop and implement community perinatal pathways that lead to safe and equitable maternal and child health outcomes while embracing Black and brown community birth professionals.
A pathway for parents-to-be and families to find information and get connected to practical resources and support in a judgement free space, enabling them to increase opportunities for a positive birth outcome.
A pathway to foster collaboration and accountability to improve the perinatal system through policy changes and safe integration of community birth workers into established health care organizations and systems.
A pathway for aspiring community birth professionals to overcome barriers and receive the training, professional development, mentoring and support needed to achieve a sustainable career.
A pathway for community members to gain a deeper understanding of reproductive justice and birth equity issues and how their support can impact opportunities for improved maternal health and positive birth outcomes.
Our Team
Co-Founders

Marchelle Pettit, (She/Her), is a certified doula, childbirth educator, community health worker and new parent educator with over 10 years of experience supporting families from underrepresented communities. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Human Services & Interdisciplinary Studies from Bethel University.
As a community leader, family advocate, and champion for reproductive justice and birth equity, Marchelle is deeply committed to helping cultivate a community where every family feels safe, heard, strengthened and empowered.

Laura Pate (she/her), MPA, is an experienced organizational administrator, program developer, grant manager, and social justice advocate. Laura served as Director of Nurse-Family Partnership, created the Diaper Bank of Northern Indiana, and helped to develop the B.A.S.E. Doula Program during her time at Goodwill Industries of Michiana. She is committed to supporting grassroots initiatives that address community challenges.
Laura’s core values of respect for human dignity, integrity, and humility guide her actions and interactions with others.
Board of Directors

Rev. Dr. Dannell Brown
Pastor, Agape Missionary Baptist Church

Onjanette Dancler
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, St. Joseph County Public Library

Latorya Greene
Director, Community Health & Well-Being and Tobacco Initiatives, St. Joseph Health System

Mellisa Lathion
Professional Development Practitioner/Lactation Coordinator, Beacon Health System

Bianca Nash-Miot
Program Manager, Founder, Birth Queens and Milk Queens

Charlotte Pfeifer
Associate Faculty, Indiana University South Bend; Community Service and Civic Responsibility Advocate

Robin Walls
Birth Doula, Appointed Time Doula Service; Administrator, Quintess Primary Care LLC

Theresa Baker
Nurse Supervisor, Nurse-Family Partnership, Goodwill Industries of Michiana