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Discussion on baby boxes program for new mothers
0:42:02
ยท
127 sec
Council Member Marmorato inquires about the baby boxes program for new mothers at NYC Health + Hospitals. Dr. Katz explains the need for the program and confirms that all new mothers in their hospitals are eligible, regardless of income.
- The program aims to provide essential items for newborns to parents who may not have support networks for traditional baby showers.
- The boxes include items like diapers, onesies, and wipes to help make the first days of parenthood less stressful.
- H+H commits to continuing the program for all new mothers at their hospitals, without income-based restrictions.
Kristy Marmorato
0:42:02
So I just wanted to touch on on the baby boxes.
0:42:05
Can you explain the need the need for the creation of the baby boxes?
Dr. Mitch Katz
0:42:09
Sure.
0:42:09
Again, it's nice to have another health care professional.
0:42:12
So on the board asking questions about health care.
0:42:17
So what we've noticed is that a lot of the patients that we care for don't have the kind of social circles that result in the baby showers that many of us enjoyed when we were first parents.
0:42:36
I remember myself having one when I when I brought my son home from Vietnam and the people at work, you know, with the onesies and diapers and the the other things.
0:42:46
And so the goal of the baby box is is to start people off well who may not have the kind of social circle that produces those kinds of things.
0:42:57
And to make sure So I mean, that that those first, you know, days as a parent are as unstressful as possible because you have the diapers, you have the onesies, you have the wipes and the things that that you needed.
0:43:10
They have been very popular among the patients.
Kristy Marmorato
0:43:14
Okay.
0:43:14
Is it it's it's our understanding that this will be for new mothers.
0:43:18
All new mothers will be eligible to receive that regardless of income.
0:43:22
Is that correct?
Dr. Mitch Katz
0:43:23
Correct.
0:43:23
We our our own patients so skewed to low income that we have we we don't we don't try to distinguish by income.
Kristy Marmorato
0:43:36
Yeah.
0:43:36
Because I know when I became a new mother, there were things that the hospital had gifted me that I wouldn't have known to have get gotten for myself because I just was never around babies.
0:43:45
So I would love to see if you guys could commit to continue giving it to all all new mothers at
Dr. Mitch Katz
0:43:50
Absolutely.
0:43:51
These hospitals.
0:43:51
That's our the part of the decision of health and hospitals on all grounds is we we do not know nor do we try to find out people's incomes.
0:44:03
Right?
0:44:03
I mean, we we provide one standard of services, whatever you are, rich, poor, it's the same services.