New Chaplaincy Program for Prenatal and Postpartum Care Launches at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
The program expands access to spiritual care while helping chaplains gain hospital-based experience
Jul 15, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the launch of the Trauma-Informed Maternal Health Chaplaincy Volunteer Program, a new volunteer opportunity for seminarians and community-based clergy who are interested in the intersection of hospital chaplaincy and maternal health. Piloted at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, the two-year program offers participants the opportunity to gain hands-on experience providing trauma-informed spiritual care in a hospital setting while serving pregnant and postpartum patients and their families. Volunteer chaplains support patients experiencing spiritual distress related to pregnancy, including pregnancy loss, intimate partner violence, previous traumatic birth experiences, and other life challenges such as food insecurity, housing instability, and mental health concerns. A growing body of research demonstrates that trauma can have lasting effects on mental and physical health, contributing to anxiety, depression, substance use, reduced engagement with healthcare, heightened stress responses, and poorer maternal and infant health outcomes. Chaplaincy care is available to patients of all faith traditions, as well as those with no religious affiliation, with an emphasis on compassionate presence, emotional support, and patient-centered care. In addition to serving patients, volunteer chaplains become valued members of the maternal health care team by providing emotional support to staff, participating in debriefings following difficult cases, and promoting resilience and well-being among staff. The program is expected to expand to additional NYC Health + Hospitals facilities following the pilot at Woodhull Hospital. Seminarians, community-based clergy, and faith leaders interested in developing hospital chaplaincy skills while supporting maternal health are encouraged to apply. For more information, contact the Faith Based Initiatives Team at ExternalAffairsFBI@nychhc.org.
NYC Health + Hospitals currently has 48 chaplains providing spiritual care across the system, and all of its hospitals and skilled nursing facilities offer spaces and programming for spiritual care. The new initiative announced today builds on NYC Health + Hospitals’ Introduction to Hospital Chaplaincy Volunteer program, a 14-week internship where trained faith leaders interested in hospital chaplaincy gain experience at the bedside. Since its launch in 2022, the Hospital Chaplaincy Volunteer program has trained 64 chaplains.
“The Trauma-Informed Hospital Chaplain Volunteer Program at Woodhull Hospital recognizes that healing is not only physical,” said Rev. Dr. Ann Marie Bentsi-Addison Senior Director, Faith-Based Initiatives at NYC Health + Hospitals. “Many patients, families, and even healthcare staff carry the weight of trauma, grief, fear, and uncertainty. By preparing chaplains to provide care that is compassionate, culturally responsive, and grounded in the principles of trauma-informed care, we are creating a ministry of presence that helps people feel safe, seen, heard, and supported during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. This program reflects our commitment to caring for the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.”
“At NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, we are proud to pilot a program that recognizes the full humanity of our patients and families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care,” said Wendy Wilcox, MD, MPH, MBA, FACOG, System Chief Women’s Health Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals and Chief of Obstetrics & Gynecology at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “Maternal health is deeply personal, and for many patients, healing and support extend beyond clinical care alone. Through this trauma-informed chaplaincy program, we are expanding compassionate, culturally responsive support for patients facing some of life’s most vulnerable moments, while strengthening the care team that surrounds them. This initiative reflects Woodhull Hospital’s commitment to treating every patient with dignity, empathy, and respect.”
“At NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, we understand that maternal health care must support the whole person—physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” said Clifford Miller, Chief Operating Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “This program strengthens our ability to provide compassionate, trauma-informed support to prenatal and postpartum patients and their families, while reinforcing our commitment to dignity, healing, and patient-centered care for the communities we serve.”
“Being a chaplain has shown me that ministry often happens in the quiet moments,” said LaWanda Riddick, volunteer chaplain in the Trauma-Informed Maternal Health Chaplaincy Volunteer Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “It is not always about having the right words or offering solutions. More often, it is about being present with people as they navigate some of life’s most difficult experiences. Through chaplaincy, I am reminded of the importance of listening deeply, honoring each person’s story, and providing support without judgment. Simply showing up, sitting with people in their pain, and letting them know they are not alone can be a powerful act of care and service.”
The work of trauma-informed chaplains in Maternal Health extends beyond labor and delivery. They provide support across the continuum of care, including:
- Prenatal Care: Helping women manage anxiety, navigate difficult diagnoses, cope with social stressors, and prepare emotionally for childbirth.
- Labor and Delivery: Offering a calming presence, spiritual support, advocacy, and emotional reassurance during one of life’s most vulnerable moments.
- Postpartum Care: Addressing fears, postpartum mood concerns, birth trauma, and adjustment to motherhood.
- Pregnancy and Infant Loss: Providing compassionate support to families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, or complex medical outcomes.
- Family Support: Assisting partners, support persons, grandparents, and loved ones who are often navigating their own emotional challenges.
NYC Health + Hospitals’ Office of Faith-Based Initiatives works to equip faith-based and community-based organizations in New York City as they provide health and healthcare guidance to people in need. Serving as a bridge between faith-based organizations and NYC Health + Hospitals, the Office connects external groups with information and partnership opportunities on a range of wellness challenges, encouraging collaboration among the people and organizations addressing health and health disparities. In addition, the Office develops internships to strengthen the chaplaincy workforce at NYC Health + Hospitals and expand access to chaplaincy care to its patients and staff.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health care system, is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Brooklyn. It is a premiere health care organization for key specialties, including surgery, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, ambulatory care/primary care, emergency medicine, and behavioral health services. Last year, the hospital received close to 480,000 ambulatory care visits and close to 100,000 emergency room visits. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/woodhull, and stay connected on Facebook.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation, serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.