Women and children first. A Catholic provider reconnects with its communities by offering programs for women and children.

To help persons in their communities, especially women and children, overcome barriers to healthcare, subsidiaries of Bala Cynwyd, PA-based Mercy Health Corporation of Southeastern Pennsylvania sponsor programs that reach out to area residents. After a 1990 community needs assessment, Misericordia Hospital became more aware of the poor state of maternal and infant healthcare services in West Philadelphia. Today a revamped obstetrics/gynecology department offers a range of outpatient clinical and support services. The certified nurse midwife program, Misericordia on Motherhood, offers prenatal care, nutrition counseling, parenting classes, and social services. The WeeCare program, launched by Mercy Health Plan in 1991, is a perinatal risk-reduction program to help change the perception that pregnancy does not require medical intervention. Misericordia Hospital is meeting children's healthcare needs through a school-based primary care center at the Samuel B. Huey Elementary School, West Philadelphia. Mercy Health Plan's Immunization Outreach Program ensures children receive necessary immunizations. To prevent breast cancer, women can turn to Misericordia Hospital and Mercy Health Plan's Breast Cancer Screening and Outreach Program. The program's goal is to ensure that women recognize the importance of their own health and to educate them about early breast cancer detection.