A coalition of maternal health experts is giving Black mothers in Philadelphia a reason to smile with the launch of the Philly Joy Bank. As of March 19, more than $1.4 million has been dispersed to 250 mothers through this innovative guaranteed income pilot program, which offers $1,000 monthly payments from the second trimester of a mother’s pregnancy until their child’s first birthday.
The initiative aims to shrink maternal health disparities in Philadelphia, a city where poverty and pregnancy often intersect. In 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that preterm and low-weight births were the second leading cause of infant mortality. Poverty exacerbates the risk of low birth weight, primarily due to a lack of access to adequate healthcare and healthy food choices.
As identified as ‘America’s poorest big city,’ Philadelphia’s infant mortality rate is nearly 40 percent higher than the national rate of 5.8 per 1,000 live births. The statistics for Black birthing people are even more concerning; they are four times more likely than white individuals to die due to pregnancy-related causes, reflecting a disturbing national trend. The program specifically selected mothers living in three neighborhoods known for their high rates of very low birth weight, defined as less than 3 pounds 5 ounces. Cobbs Creek has a rate of 4 percent, Strawberry Mansion follows with 3.7 percent, and Nicetown-Tioga has a rate of 3.59 percent.
Almost 50 percent of the participants in the Philly Joy Bank program report an annual household income of less than $10,000. Program Director Nia Coaxum explained that this initiative aims to assist birthing people in obtaining more financial security by offering funds without strings attached. This flexibility allows recipients to use the money in ways that best meet their needs, providing the emotional space necessary to enjoy the joys of parenting—hence the name ‘Philly Joy Bank.’
“Everyone was very intentional about this program just having a positive aura about it,” Coaxum stated. “We really just wanted to emphasize a key part of pregnancy and parenting and how that’s a joyful experience.”
The objectives behind the Philly Joy Bank align with this year’s Black Maternal Health Week theme, which is “Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy.” This annual observance, scheduled from April 11-17, was established by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to raise awareness about racial inequalities in maternal healthcare while celebrating Black birthing individuals and the advocates dedicated to their well-being.
During a recent webinar hosted by the alliance, psychologist and doula Dr. Sayida Peprah-Wilson highlighted the importance of including and listening to Black mothers in maternal health research. She warned that Black maternal health professionals and birthing individuals often experience secondary traumatic stress when confronted with the grim realities of health inequities. According to Peprah-Wilson, an effective way to alleviate this mental health toll is to pair negative statistics with positive outcomes or solutions. For instance, while Black women are three times more likely than white women to die during childbirth, over 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
“A lot of times I hear families come into our doula program saying the reason why they want a doula is because they are afraid they are going to die during childbirth,” Peprah-Wilson remarked. “So, it’s been very important for us to lift up the concerns that are happening. There is a crisis in the community. But we also don’t want people to be afraid of something that we have been doing since the beginning of time. We are not expected to die just because we are giving birth.”
Coaxum explained that the creation of the Philly Joy Bank was a collective response to a dire need for action. A few years ago, the Philadelphia Community Action Network, or PhillyCAN, brought together its coalition of maternal health experts to explore ways to enhance the health of babies and their families. Coaxum mentioned that PhillyCAN analyzed a survey conducted among birthing individuals between 2018 and 2020, which highlighted finances as their top stressor. The research team examined how other states were addressing financial stress during pregnancy, ultimately leading to the founding of Philly Joy Bank.
The program’s steering committee consists of other Black mothers who serve as lived experience experts and can relate to the participants’ stories. Their insights are imperative in shaping the decision-making process for Philly Joy Bank. As a mother of a 16-month-old son, Coaxum understands that Black mothers need to feel heard in the current healthcare climate.
“They need to be listened to,” Coaxum stressed. “Don’t just ask them what their needs are and how they’re doing, but to actually take that into account. We know what we need best, and we don’t necessarily need somebody else telling us, ‘This is what you need. This is the type of help you should accept.’ Actually listen to moms and birthing people when they tell you what their needs are and the kind of help that would be beneficial for them.”
Philly Joy Bank is collaborating with Drexel University to assess the program’s impact. However, Coaxum noted that the evaluation report will not be available until around late 2026. Despite this timeline, compelling success stories are already emerging from participants in the program.
Once the financial support began, numerous stories surfaced. One bilingual mother was able to enroll in English classes, thus improving her ability to pursue her certified nursing assistant courses. Another mother, previously facing housing instability, now has the resources to move into a new apartment. Last fall, a mother who was torn between buying supplies for her older children and preparing for her newborn found relief, as she no longer had to make that difficult choice; she was able to meet both needs simultaneously.
Coaxum emphasized that the program has empowered parents to choose what is best for their families, particularly regarding when to leave their jobs. “We don’t have a national parental paid leave policy, and some folks don’t have the option of leave at all,” she explained. “So the hope is that by granting them this extra money, it will also enable them to save in advance if necessary. This money can keep them afloat if they must take time off from work and support their households while caring for other children as well.”
Similar initiatives like Philly Joy Bank have demonstrated efficacy in breaking the cycle of poverty for Black families. For example, Magnolia Mother’s Trust, the longest-running guaranteed income program in the U.S., provides $1,000 monthly to low-income Black mothers in Jackson, Mississippi. According to the trust’s 2023-2024 evaluation and case study report, the funds not only helped participants avoid living paycheck-to-paycheck but also allowed 45 percent of mothers to open savings accounts with the extra money. Additionally, around 65 percent of mothers in the program were able to reduce their debt, improving their overall credit scores.
In Birmingham, Alabama, the Embrace Mothers program provided single mothers with $375 monthly payments for a year. This financial assistance significantly impacted food insecurity, with groceries accounting for 31.8 percent of their expenditures. Retail services made up 30 percent of the spending, followed by housing and utilities at 12 percent.
While the name ‘Philly Joy Bank’ suggests a financial institution, it serves as much more than that. The program adopts a multi-faceted approach to preventing maternal and infant deaths. Participants of the Philly Joy Bank are also offered additional voluntary support, including financial assistance, lactation education, and doula services. Coaxum asserted that these wrap-around services prepare birthing individuals for long-term success.
“You don’t just want someone to have support prenatally and then, when the baby’s born, to be like, ‘OK, we’re never seeing you again. You got this,’” Coaxum stated. “We really need to take a holistic approach when talking about Black maternal health because folks have different needs throughout the different points of the perinatal period.”
Currently, the majority of mothers participating in Philly Joy Bank are utilizing the financial counseling services provided. According to Coaxum, the mothers are learning to save or use the funds in a manner that maximizes their impact, extending beyond their time in the program.
“Now they have this extra money, and maybe their financial goals have changed,” Coaxum added. “So we wanted to give them this option if they needed help determining how to make this money last or achieve their aspirations.”
At present, Philly Joy Bank is not accepting new participants, but Coaxum is optimistic about the program’s future growth. She noted that if the evaluation yields sufficiently positive results, the initiative may expand, allowing it to accept low-income birthing individuals from all across Philadelphia. This expansion would create opportunities for more parents to experience financial freedom.
“When we provide support to Black mothers, it really is possible for us to thrive and to have not just positive birth experiences and outcomes, but also improved health overall,” Coaxum concluded.
image source from：https://www.nj.com/blackjoy/2025/04/this-guaranteed-income-program-has-provided-14-million-in-cash-assistance-for-philadelphia-mothers.html
