Planned Parenthood North Central States’ Post

Did you know that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women? Multiple factors contribute to these disparities, such as variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. Did you also know that pregnancy-related death is tragic, especially because more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. are preventable. Join us & Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. (BMMA) in celebrating #BlackMaternalHealthWeek! Take part in unforgettable activities & conversations aimed at shifting the state of Black Maternal Health in the U.S. Learn more: blackmamasmatter.org/bmh Below are a few other organizations who are doing the work to bring awareness to improve health outcomes for black maternal health! #BMHW24 Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. (BMMA) Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at Tufts University March of Dimes Every Mother Counts

As we continue our #blackhistorymonth series, this week we turn our attention to a pressing issue: Maternal health disparities. Black women in the U.S. face significantly higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth, with them being 2-3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, regardless of their income or education level. Moreover, the majority of these maternal deaths are preventable. This stark inequality underscores the urgent need for targeted efforts to address the root causes of these disparities, including access to quality care, underlying health conditions, systemic racism, and the social determinants of health. In the forefront of this crucial work is Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc. (BMMA), a national network of Black women-led and Black-led organization dedicated to advocating for the rights, health, and well-being of Black mothers. Through their tireless work, they aim to change policies, cultivate research, and advance care for Black mothers. As we spotlight the challenges and disparities in maternal health, let's also celebrate and support the organizations and individuals dedicated to making a difference. It's time to ensure that every mother, regardless of race, has the support and care she needs for a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth. 💜 https://lnkd.in/eRyCtZa #MaternalHealth #BlackMamasMatter #HealthEquity

 https://lnkd.in/gZNeDT3z Excited to share my first published Op-Ed piece on the important work of Racial Justice in Early Childhood!

Team members Jeremy Arnold and Reagan Williams attended the Collective Power for Reproductive Justice conference to connect and hear what's top of mind with the reproductive justice (RJ) ecosystem. For over 30 years, this conference has gathered leaders from different disciplines, backgrounds, and locations to share space, ideas, and perspectives. This year, the gathering fell during Black Maternal Health Week 2024 (#BMHW24)! It began with a plenary session titled: “Emerging Leaders Shaping the Future & Speaking Up for Justice”. As Reagan says, "Giving young people (in this case undergraduate students) the validation, respect and responsibility to kick off the conference spoke volumes to the dismantling of hierarchy and white supremacy culture. I was incredibly inspired as a ‘20 something’. I was reminded that young people have been critical to the progress of racial justice and defying white supremacy culture to carve out a space for marginalized people in spaces that were not created for us or by us. I was affirmed as a young black queer intellectual. I was reminded to honor my lived experience as expertise and that qualitative data allows us to piece together larger narratives in a mosaic of diverse perceptions. Philanthropy has an opportunity to make meaningful change, when funders intentionally relinquish power, capital and storytelling to the communities they seek to serve." As the Race, Healing, and Joy project continues, our goal is to center Black leadership in RJ and create transformative experiences of healing and joy for those closest to the issue. We deserve a vibrant reproductive ecosystem of contributors (including a funding community that puts its money where its mouth is.)  Let's continue dreaming in service of what's possible. Anything can happen when we build collective power. How do you fit into the #reproductivejustice ecosystem?

As we celebrate Black History month, of utmost importance is to recognize racial disparities in health care. The CDC reports black mothers are 3 times more likely to die during pregnancy than white mothers. https://lnkd.in/e5YEi2A  The Joint Commission, CDC, and CMS are all actively engaged in initiatives to bring awareness to implicit biases in healthcare. In addition since 2019, 25 states have introduced legislation requiring implicit bias training (IBT) for healthcare providers. As individuals and professionals, we must take action to assess, recognize and change our biases. As we celebrate, let’s take this opportunity to truly provide better healthcare for all our patients. https://lnkd.in/gCBzqVsQ https://lnkd.in/g_M28jE3 https://lnkd.in/gJ_WQsPw

📣 Black maternal health Week 🤰🏾✨ 🌟 It's Black Maternal Health Week, let’s not forget to continue raising awareness and demanding action for the well-being of Black mothers and babies. Education and fair and just behavior will help eliminate racial disparities in maternal healthcare and ensure every Black mother receives the support and care she deserves. 💪🏾💕 🔹 Did you know that Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to white women? It's time to address this injustice and create a more equitable healthcare system. 💔 🔹 Come together to amplify the voices of Black mothers, advocate for policy change, and ensure that every mother has access to quality care and support. 🌍🤝📢 Help make a lasting impact. Together, we can create a future where every mom and baby thrives. 💜🙌🏾 👉🏾 #BlackMaternalHealthWeek 🖤🤰🏿✨ Let's build a world where All mothers are protected, valued, and celebrated. #BlackMaternalHealthMatters 🖤🤱🏽✨

In our research investigating the health needs of formerly incarcerated Black women, we found that more than half of the women in the study had a history of substance use or misuse, and for many of them, maintaining sobriety was a priority as part of their health and wellness needs once released from incarceration. Karina, a study participant said, "When I was in treatment and sober living, I was just working on me. It was just about being clean. It was just about the 12 steps. It was just about meetings. Once I got to A New Way of Life, my journey began as far as becoming the woman I used to be before I was incarcerated and addicted. It was regaining my being and being a productive person in society." Karina's experience with the A New Way of Life Reentry Project demonstrates the vital importance of making sure formerly incarcerated Black women have access to resources and services that will support their health holistically and help them safely and successfully return to their communities. To learn more, read our report, “Pathways to Wellness: Health Needs of Black Women After Incarceration,” at https://lnkd.in/e_sfZyWs #NBWJI #PathwaysToWellness

This Black History Month, we’re shining a light on the disheartening disparities Black women and families often faces on the path to parenthood and beyond. WIN proudly addresses disparities and closes the gap in family-building and family well-being benefits or the BIPOC community in a number of ways. - Increasing BIPOC representation among our Nurse Care Advocates (40% to date!) is key to broadening understanding in fertility and family-building options and closing the gap to care for diverse populations - Hands-on provider matching ensures WIN members are paired with providers who represent their community, share their ethnicity and language, and understand their lived experience.   - WIN’s national network of fertility providers allows 90% of the US population to be within 30 minutes of an affiliated high-quality fertility sub-specialist - WIN provides evidence-based mental support to help lower stress and improve overall well-being while navigating deep cultural stigmas Together, we can break down barriers and facilitate equitable access to family-building and family well-being and support for all through Black History Month and beyond. Learn more about how WIN can support your diverse workforces: https://bit.ly/47ZQJyI   #BlackHistoryMonth #FertilityEquality #BreakTheStigma #FertilityTalks #AccessForAll #CloseTheGap

The lived experiences of #BlackWomen, girls, and gender-expansive people must shape the policies that address their needs. “The 2023 Black Reproductive Justice Agenda is a collaboration between @In Our Own Voice and 50+ other Black women-led reproductive justice organizations and advocates. We’ve partnered to produce proactive, long-term policy solutions to address the social, economic, political, and health issues that impact our decisions on if, when, and how to have and raise families on our own terms. In releasing this agenda, our hope is that the U.S. Congress will embrace these recommendations and work with us in partnership to make the necessary legislative changes so that we can live in full autonomy and achieve full economic, political, and cultural freedom.” Read the full agenda here: https://lnkd.in/dqcWZFhF

"So many of our crises are of a piece...... Our strategies for facing the future must be robust and expansive in kind. If the organizers of the mid-20th century imagined the ideal of freedom as including multiple dimensions—not just voting rights and access to higher education, but also freedom from sexual violence, reproductive rights, access to health care, and a living wage—we must insist upon the same in the present moment....." I can always rely on Imani Perry to share pieces of our past to create a path for the future. #leadingwithin #edleadership #edleaders https://lnkd.in/dkgwkx6v