After winning first place in the 2025 New Haven Civic Innovation Prize, Enrich Health is making big strides to transform maternity care across Connecticut. In June, the organization opened its first physical location in Hamden to close maternal health disparities and uplift Black women who have been historically underserved.
Founded by Dr. Monique Rainford and Dr. Andrea Lee, Enrich Health is headed by two women with extensive experience in women’s healthcare. Monique, the organization’s CEO, is a board-certified OB/GYN, a Yale MBA graduate and former private practice physician. Andrea, the organization’s Chief Medical Officer, completed her OB/GYN residency at Georgetown and has served in roles at Northwestern and as a lead negotiator with the Department of Medicaid.
Together, they envision a future where there are maternity wellness centers all over the state provide high-quality and compassionate care to all mothers, regardless of race.
Enrich Health’s partnership with Doulas4CT is one of the most important elements of their strategy to enhance access to Black maternal health. Explaining the role of doulas, Dr. Rainford states that “Doulas are another defined support system for pregnant women,” who offer physical, emotional, informational, and spiritual support during pregnancy. Doulas play a significant role in Enrich Health by filling the missing gap of community care. During “mommy circles,” for instance, pregnant women and their partners sit in conversation with the head doula to share stories, ask questions and build supportive connections.
Dwight Hall has been a key partner in advancing the mission of Enrich Health, providing fiscal sponsorship and guidance on fundraising. Through collaborative work on grants — most recently a successful grant from the Connecticut Health Foundation — Dwight Hall has played a critical role in helping Enrich Health’s growth as an organization.
“Enrich Health’s collaboration with Dwight Hall has been one of our most consequential relationships so far,” says Dr. Rainford. “Dwight Hall has unlocked doors to philanthropic donors whose support [has been] critical to our mission and growth.”
Looking ahead, Enrich Health is launching an online campaign to increase accessibility to their resources, ranging from educational videos to social media outreach, to reach families who may not be able to come in person. The organization is also continuing its outreach efforts, attending local events like the Black Wall Street Festival, and reaching out to churches and community groups to spread the word.
“We want partners and everyone to support us,” Monique emphasized. “If you believe that the quality of a woman’s healthcare shouldn’t be predicated on skin color or that healthier mothers lead to stronger communities, join us in our mission.”
For more information about Enrich Health, visit their website and Instagram for the latest updates. The organization welcomes volunteers, partners, and sponsors to be a part of the mission of promoting health equity for Black women.
More Groups and Programs
About the Author
