Welcoming Cheryl Smith to The BLACK Collaborative as CHW

A strong maternal and family health program depends on people who understand care as both personal and communal. It takes skill, trust, lived knowledge, cultural respect, and the ability to meet families with patience during some of the most meaningful and vulnerable moments of their lives.

The BLACK Collaborative Inc. is excited to welcome Cheryl Smith to the Office of Maternal & Family Health as our newest Community Health Worker Trainee Intern.

Cheryl brings a meaningful blend of experience and purpose to this role. She is a practicing midwife, herbalist, birth and postpartum doula, and childbirth instructor. Across these areas of work, she has centered education, compassionate support, and whole-person care for individuals and families moving through pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, and lifelong wellness.

Her work reflects a clear belief: families deserve to feel informed, respected, and supported as they make decisions about their health and their birth journeys. That belief connects deeply with the mission of The BLACK Collaborative and the work of the Office of Maternal & Family Health.

Please join us in welcoming Cheryl to The BLACK Collaborative family.

Cheryl Smith brings a grounded approach to maternal and family health

Cheryl’s background spans several areas of care that often overlap in families' lives. As a midwife, she brings a deep understanding of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum transitions. As a doula, she offers steady presence and nonjudgmental support. As a childbirth instructor, she helps families prepare for what to expect, ask informed questions, and build confidence before, during, and after birth.

Her experience as an herbalist also adds an important layer to her work. Herbal knowledge has long been part of family and community wellness traditions across many cultures. Cheryl’s approach honors that knowledge while also respecting evidence-informed birth practices and each family's safety needs.

That balance matters. Many families want care that sees more than symptoms or appointments. They want care that recognizes history, culture, intuition, and personal choice. They also want information they can trust. Cheryl’s work sits at that intersection, where education, tradition, and evidence can work together with care and intention.

In her role as a CHW Trainee Intern, Cheryl will continue to build on that foundation while supporting the mission of the Office of Maternal & Family Health. Her presence adds depth to a team focused on improving access, connection, and support for families.

The role of a Community Health Worker is built on trust

Community Health Workers play a unique role in health care and community wellness. They often serve as a bridge between families, health systems, and community-based supports. Their work can include education, outreach, resource navigation, follow-up support, and relationship-building with people who may face barriers to care.

At the heart of the role is trust.

Families may need help understanding options, preparing questions for a provider, finding support after birth, or identifying resources that fit their needs. A Community Health Worker can help make those steps feel less overwhelming. This work is especially meaningful in maternal and family health, where timing, communication, and emotional support can make a real difference in how families experience care. A CHW does not replace clinical care. Instead, the role supports connection and access. It can help families feel better prepared to participate in their care, seek appropriate services, and understand the resources around them.

That kind of support is practical. It is also deeply human.

The Office of Maternal & Family Health gains a thoughtful new team member

The BLACK Collaborative Inc. is grateful to have her as part of this work.

Please join us in giving Cheryl Smith a warm welcome to The BLACK Collaborative family.