Mother Baby Program

Umoja Baby Program

Culturally Affirming Parenting & Attachment Program

Umoja Baby Program is a culturally grounded parenting model designed to strengthen the emotional bond between mothers and their babies. Rooted in African-centered values of unity, nurturing, and intergenerational healing, this program supports secure attachment, emotional regulation, and responsive caregiving during the earliest stages of life.

Core Focus Areas:

  • Promoting emotional connection and attunement between parent and child

  • Honoring cultural identity and ancestral wisdom in parenting practices

  • Supporting maternal mental health and self-compassion

  • Building community and peer support among mothers

  • Healing intergenerational trauma through nurturing relationships

Used in other mother-baby community-based programs, Umoja Baby Program offers a safe, empowering space for parents to reconnect with their strengths, their children, and their cultural roots.

The Power of Connection

Understanding attachment and how babies communicate emotional needs.

Parenting Through a Cultural Lens

Exploring ancestral wisdom, cultural values, and identity in caregiving.

Emotional Regulation for Parents & Babies

Learning to co-regulate, soothe, and respond with intention.

Healing Intergenerational Wounds

Reflecting on how our own childhoods shape how we parent—and how to break harmful cycles.

Self-Compassion & Maternal Mental Health

Centering the caregiver’s emotional well-being and building resilience.

Building Your Village

Strengthening peer support and community care among mothers.

Each session includes guided discussion, reflection, and practical tools to support secure attachment and emotional wellness—for both parent and child.

  • Jessica Coleman LICSW, PhD Candidate, Group Facilitator

    Jessica Coleman is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with advanced training in trauma-informed care and culturally grounded healing practices. Her clinical expertise includes working with individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness—a population that aligns closely with her research interests and therapeutic focus.

    With over a decade of experience, Jessica has supported clients navigating complex mental health and physical health challenges, child welfare involvement, and the impacts of domestic violence. As a group facilitator, she brings empathy, structure, and cultural responsiveness to every session, creating a safe and empowering space for healing and growth.

    Outside of her professional work, Jessica is a proud mother and recent empty nester—life roles that continue to shape her deep commitment to family, resilience, and community care.

  • Jacqueline Coleman LICSW, Group Facilitator

    Jacqueline Coleman is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with advanced training in trauma-informed care and culturally grounded healing practices. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked extensively in child welfare and with survivors of domestic violence, bringing deep empathy and clinical insight to her work.

    Jacqueline is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She is also certified in Mama Umoja Butu, a culturally affirming parenting model that fosters secure attachment and emotional connection between mothers and their babies. She integrates this approach into her work with new parents, helping families heal, bond, and thrive.

    Outside of her professional role, Jacqueline is a devoted wife of 37 years, a proud mother to three adult children, and a loving grandmother to six grandchildren. Her personal and professional experiences deeply inform her commitment to healing, connection, and generational resilience.