Gennisi Charitable Birth Services

There is an alarmingly high rate of maternal deaths and birth disparities in the African American community, both occurring during birth or within the first year of postpartum. As a new non-profit in Knox County, Gennisi Charitable Birth Services (GCBS) offers doula support services regardless of socioeconomic status with the desire to produce better birth outcomes that will benefit the greater Knoxville community. According to the 2019 Knox County Community Health Assessment, “black infants are four times more likely than white infants to die in their first year of life.” As a result, Gennisi plans to launch “Whole Mom/Whole Baby,” a 12-month pregnancy, birth, and postpartum educational support program for African American women and families in Knox County. This program walks alongside mothers (particularly underrepresented and underserved), providing them with essential and supportive birthing and postpartum services to decrease the number of maternal deaths and birth disparities in Knox County. The work is a life-saving dedication – and Gennisi Charitable Birth Services is committed to doing the necessary work to save the lives of women and their children.