Home » News » Community Impact » Health Education

Community Impact

Prenatal Education at El Buen Leads to a Healthier Community

The lack of prenatal health education has a far-reaching effect on low-income mothers. To ensure babies of low-income families are born healthy, a collaboration between El Buen Samaritano and the March of Dimes Texas Chapter offers prenatal education through the March of Dimes' Comenzando Bien© (Healthy Beginnings) Program, which has had a positive impact on the lives of Hispanic families and their babies for 14 years now. 

Meet Esthela Hernandez: 

Esthela Hernandez, 27, is glad to have the opportunity to learn more about having a healthy pregnancy. "It is helpful to learn about stress-relieving techniques and to learn to break cultural myths about women's health," Esthela said. 

Due in April, Esthela and her husband Raúl are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first boy and second child. They attended Comenzando Bien© prenatal classes prior to the arrival of their first child five years ago. 

Comenzando Bien© is a culturally and linguistically appropriate, prenatal education curriculum designed by the March of Dimes. It provides Hispanic women and their families with information about a healthy pregnancy, creating a supportive environment that promotes healthy behaviors and empowers participants to become assertive, informed consumers of prenatal care services. 

The program is available in Spanish and English at no cost to the participants. For more information about Comenzando Bien© at El Buen Samaritano, contact Lil Almonte, director of outreach, at (512) 439-0734 or El Buen Continues the Fight against Poverty.