New funding will help the Mothers & Babies’ Perinatal Network in Binghamton provide more assistance to new families across the Southern Tier.

State Senator Fred Akshar announced a $10,000 grant from the state for the project Thursday. The goal of the program is to help parents and children acquire insurance or help solve insurance-related issues.

“We need to educate them on how to use it and how important preventative care is, but when they run into a problem, somebody needs to be there to help them and that’s what we’re doing,” said Sharon Chesna, executive director of the Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network.

The organization also helps with parenting skills and connecting people to community resources.