Coalition Highlight: Brandy Watts ​& COPHI

Phoebe McIntosh 
Vital Village Networks Community Mobilization AmeriCorps VISTA

Championing Maternal Health Equity: Local Leader Brandy Watts and the Boston COPHI Program ​

For Brandy Watts, the journey into lactation support began during her Master of Public Health program, where she uncovered stark disparities in maternal and child health, especially around breastfeeding in marginalized communities. This realization fueled her deep commitment to addressing these inequities and set her on a path to become a local leader in maternal health today.

Brandy's work quickly expanded to encompass doula services, recognizing that lactation support is deeply interconnected with other aspects of maternal health. She understood that improving breastfeeding outcomes also required addressing broader support systems and removing barriers that many families face, especially those in under-resourced communities. After earning certifications as a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Community Breastfeeding Educator (CBE), and completing a Full Spectrum Doula training, she joined the Boston Public Health Commission as the Director of the Boston Community Perinatal Health Initiative (COPHI).

Boston COPHI, a city-funded program within the Healthy Start Systems Division and supported by the Office of Minority Health, aims to close the racial equity gap in maternal and infant health. The program has three main goals: connecting mothers to doula support, training community members to become doulas, and educating policymakers about the importance of culturally and linguistically appropriate care.

Leading COPHI into its second year of funding, Brandy has been critical to the program’s early success. But, building Boston COPHI wasn’t without challenges. From drafting a comprehensive proposal to setting up essential systems like electronic health records and community referral processes, Brandy and her team worked diligently to establish a strong foundation. With a small but dedicated team, they leveraged community partnerships to shape a program that meets families where they are.

A key achievement has been the launch of the Doula Workforce Development Center, a training hub designed to support doulas and community health workers with culturally competent resources. Originally aiming to train 50 doulas in a year, the team surpassed their goal and reached 150, highlighting the community’s need and enthusiasm for support. This center also ensures that breastfeeding support is a core component of doula training, equipping the workforce to help new families navigate breastfeeding challenges and celebrate successes by partnering doulas in training with an IBCLC.

Looking ahead, Brandy envisions a future where all families, regardless of race, religion, or socioeconomic status, can access the support they need to feed their babies in the way that feels right for them. She advocates for normalizing breastfeeding in popular culture, integrating lactation support into everyday settings, and including fathers in the conversation. She hopes every family will have access to high-quality, culturally attuned lactation support from the hospital to the home, so that breastfeeding becomes a sustainable, community-supported practice.
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Through her work, Brandy demonstrates how investing in local voices and supporting community-driven solutions can transform health outcomes. Her leadership at Boston COPHI is a testament to the power of collaboration and a commitment to health equity.

Learn more about COPHI here: Doula Services | Boston.gov
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