Barron County’s project, Improving Maternal Health for the Somali Community, developed a culturally appropriate approach to sharing health information from trusted messengers to improve maternal and infant health in the county’s Somali community.
This project aimed to improve maternal-infant health, early literacy and school readiness in Barron County’s Somali community by addressing cultural, linguistic and systemic barriers to care. Through a community-driven approach, the initiative hired and trained Somali community health workers, launched a culturally responsive Somali Mom’s group and based on community feedback, ultimately shifted focus to support childcare certification for members of the community. As a result, seven Somali women became eligible to open certified family childcare programs and fourteen completed training in the business aspects of childcare, expanding culturally appropriate care options while fostering economic opportunity. The project also strengthened local partnerships and advanced culturally informed practices across public health and human services.
The Challenge
Somali families in the community face unique cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic barriers that limit access to health education and long-term opportunities for improved well-being. Many parents are English language learners and have limited formal education due to their refugee background, impacting their ability to access reliable health information and support their children’s school readiness. Additionally, the lasting effects of the 2017 travel ban have left many Somali mothers isolated from extended family networks, diminishing critical sources of cultural and emotional support.
In addition, health information is often not delivered in ways that are culturally relevant or trusted within the community, and some health topics may be considered taboo or conflict with traditional beliefs. These barriers contribute to disparities in maternal and child health outcomes and limit opportunities for economic mobility and educational advancement. A culturally grounded, community-driven approach was needed to ensure that Somali mothers receive accurate, respectful and actionable health information in a supportive environment.
Project Goals
The project aimed to improve maternal-infant health, early literacy and school readiness within the Somali community in Barron County by establishing a Somali Moms group supported by trained community health workers (CHWs). To achieve this, the initiative set out to:
Hire and train two part-time Somali CHWs to serve as trusted messengers who would promote maternal-infant health, connect families to essential services and foster community engagement.
Build CHW capacity by enrolling them in the Wisconsin Area Health Education Center’s 15-week Community Health Worker Training Program to equip them with the skills needed to provide culturally appropriate care and education.
Create and sustain a Somali Mom’s group that would offer a safe, culturally responsive space for discussion-based learning on topics such as prenatal and postpartum care, child development, nutrition, mental health and early literacy.
Identify community needs through ongoing data collection to ensure programming remained responsive and community driven.
Increase access to resources by assisting families in navigating systems for healthcare, housing, childcare, energy assistance, Medicaid and other support services.
Promote systemic change by educating Barron County Department of Health and Human Services and partner organizations on culturally relevant practices to improve service delivery and advance health equity for Somali residents.
Results
This project achieved several milestones that were shaped by and responsive to the Somali community’s needs. Seven women of Somali descent successfully completed coursework required to open certified family childcare businesses, addressing a major gap in culturally appropriate childcare access. Additionally, fourteen women completed a course focused on the business aspects of running a certified childcare program, building critical entrepreneurial skills.
Interestingly, the project began by hiring and training community health workers (CHWs) and initiating parenting groups focused on topics such as play, child development and breastfeeding. However, ongoing community engagement and needs assessments conducted by CHWs revealed a more urgent priority: access to affordable, culturally responsive childcare. In response, the project focused on childcare certification, breaking down systemic barriers to provider licensure and subsidy access.
Despite challenges, including turnover among CHWs and barriers related to language and digital systems, CHWs successfully connected Somali families to services such as BadgerCare, energy assistance, housing support and workforce development. The project also influenced internal practices at the Barron County Department of Health & Human Services, prompting important conversations around health literacy, accessibility and the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery.
Looking to the Future
Looking ahead, sustaining and scaling this work will require continued advocacy for structural flexibility within state systems, especially regarding digital platforms and processes that are inaccessible to non-native English speakers. CHWs and local partners remain committed to supporting Somali women as they navigate certification, launch childcare businesses, and grow professionally.
Lasting Impact
This project demonstrated the power and importance of community-led solutions. By listening closely to Somali families and adjusting goals accordingly, the initiative helped lay a foundation for long-term health and economic stability within the community. The newly trained childcare providers are now better positioned to offer trusted care in their language and cultural tradition, an essential step in expanding access to quality early childhood education.
Furthermore, this project has seeded stronger partnerships between the Somali community and local health and human services staff, enhancing cultural humility and laying the groundwork for more equitable policies. With continued investment, these relationships, and the leadership capacity developed through this project, will serve as a model for advancing health equity in other immigrant and refugee communities across Wisconsin.
