Woodhull Hospital Launches Specialized Chaplaincy Program for Maternal Care

NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull officially inaugurated its Trauma-Informed Maternal Health Chaplaincy Volunteer Program on July 15, 2026. The two-year pilot initiative is designed to offer emotional and spiritual support to patients navigating challenges that often fall outside the traditional scope of clinical medicine, including pregnancy loss, domestic violence, housing instability, and mental health crises.

According to an official press release, the program is open to patients regardless of their religious background or lack thereof. By utilizing trained seminary students and community-based clergy, the hospital aims to provide a "ministry of presence" that addresses the psychological weight of trauma, which research suggests can negatively impact maternal and infant health outcomes.

Beyond patient care, the program serves as a resource for hospital staff. Volunteer chaplains are tasked with providing emotional support to care teams, participating in debriefings following difficult cases, and assisting in the development of staff resilience. Rev. Dr. Ann Marie Bentsi-Addison-Addison, Senior Director of Faith-Based Initiatives at NYC Health + Hospitals, noted that the initiative recognizes that healing extends beyond physical treatment, aiming to help individuals feel supported during vulnerable moments.

This effort builds upon the health system’s existing volunteer chaplaincy framework, which has trained 64 individuals since 2022. While the current pilot is exclusive to Woodhull, officials have indicated an intention to expand the program to additional facilities in the future, though specific locations and timelines have not yet been disclosed.

Patients and families can access this support throughout the continuum of maternal care, including prenatal visits, labor and delivery, and postpartum recovery. Those interested in participating as volunteer chaplains are encouraged to contact the NYC Health + Hospitals Faith-Based Initiatives team.