A Little Help. A Whole Lotta Joy: Philly Joy Bank helps lighten the burden for Black Families in Philly

Up to 44% of Black mothers in the United States experience postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS). Despite this significant prevalence, many of these women are not correctly identified as having postpartum depression and do not receive the mental health support they need. The intersection of Black women’s gender, race, and class makes them vulnerable to multiple forms of discrimination—such as sexism, racism, and classism— which heighten both their mental and physical stress, potentially elevating their risk of experiencing PDS.

This is why the Philly Joy Bank is an amazing contribution to the Philadelphia community.

The Philly Joy Bank is an innovative guaranteed income program providing 250 pregnant people with $1,000 beginning in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy and through 1 year postpartum. Families are also offered voluntary assistance including financial counseling, home visits, doula help, and lactation support. Eligible applicants would be 18 years or older, between 12-24 weeks pregnant, and reside in the Strawberry Mansion, Nicetown-Tioga, Cobbs Creek areas of the city.

This program was developed by the Philadelphia Community Action Network (CAN), an organization with the goal to reduce racial disparities in the city’s infant mortality. They do this by fostering a learning community and coordinating cross-sector actions. CAN members include local parents, doctors, researchers, policy workers, birth workers, and mental health professionals.

The Philly Joy Bank directly targets the financial stress exacerbated by structural racism, which contributes to higher rates of poverty and poor health outcomes among Black Philadelphians. By providing guaranteed income during pregnancy in neighborhoods with the highest percentages of very low birth weight births, the Philly Joy Bank seeks to alleviate the financial stress that disproportionately affects Black birthing people, addressing a critical factor in maternal health and well-being. Through this effort, the Philly Joy Bank supports birthing people’s dignity, power, and autonomy, improving financial stability and empowerment during a uniquely stressful time.

Nia Coaxum MPH, Philly Joy Bank Program Manager & Steering Committee Co-Chair, expressed her excitement about what Philly Joy Bank is doing for mothers and families in Philly. “As a doula, a Black woman, and a new mom, I'm thrilled to witness Philly Joy Bank alleviate financial burdens that I often see weighing on mothers during what can already be an overwhelming time. These unrestricted funds will enhance the well-being of mothers and their families as a whole,” Coaxum said.

This type of assistance is crucial because it directly addresses systemic inequalities that have disproportionately affected Black communities for generations. Many Black families face barriers to economic mobility, such as limited access to high-paying jobs, discrimination in housing and lending, and underinvestment in their neighborhoods.

Financial assistance can help alleviate the burden of these structural challenges by providing immediate relief and empowering parents to invest in their children's health and overall well-being. By ensuring that Black families have the resources they need, we can begin to close the wealth gap, support generational progress, and foster stronger, more resilient communities.