Dec 10, 2024 Story by: Editor
Unmet social needs are a significant driver of health disparities. Recognizing this, the Health Foundation of South Florida has adopted a collaborative approach to bridge health systems and community organizations, facilitating effective social interventions. This strategy aims to enhance health outcomes and address social needs in clinical care settings.
In 2022, the Health Foundation underscored the role of philanthropy in fostering collaboration and innovation by inviting proposals to establish health equity collaboratives. These initiatives focus on improving health outcomes for low-income South Floridians, particularly racial and ethnic minorities. The Foundation provided technical and financial support for four health equity collaboratives, bringing together 26 organizations to address social determinants of health and integrate these needs into clinical care.
By 2023, three of these collaboratives launched pilot projects targeting maternal and infant health outcomes in South Florida.
Addressing Maternal Health Disparities
The Health Foundation’s focus on maternal and infant health reflects the alarming disparities in Black maternal health across South Florida. Data reveals stark inequalities:
- In Miami-Dade County, Black women are three times more likely to die from childbirth-related complications than white women (FLHealthCHARTS).
- Broward County shows lower rates of first-trimester prenatal care among Black and Haitian women compared to white and Hispanic women. For instance, only 57.3% of Haitian women and 63.1% of Black women accessed early prenatal care, compared to 75.6% of white women (Broward Healthy Start Coalition).
- Monroe County faces critical shortages in maternity care due to a lack of healthcare professionals, exacerbating maternal health disparities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights that four out of five pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, underscoring the urgency for action.
Investments in Black Maternal Health Equity
Informed by the inaugural Black Health Summit, the Health Foundation allocated $1.8 million toward Black maternal health initiatives. This includes nearly $1 million for the Miami-Dade Black Maternal and Infant Health Equity Collaborative, led by Jackson Health System in partnership with Southern Birth Justice Network, Metro Mommy Agency, Magnolia Birth House, and YWCA South Florida. This funding supports:
- Training and integrating community-based doulas into prenatal and postpartum care.
- Establishing Miami-Dade County as a doula-friendly region.
- Enhancing the doula workforce and infrastructure for better access and integration.
The initiative recognizes the critical role doulas play in improving birth outcomes. The Health Foundation emphasizes doula training, mentoring, and social support, as studies, including a 2022 NIH report, link doulas to a 53% reduction in cesarean sections and a 58% decrease in postpartum depression (Falconi et al., 2022).
Expanding Care in Maternity Deserts
In Broward County, where only two OB-GYNs serve the Lauderdale Lakes area, the Health Foundation invested over $850,000 to create the Broward Black Maternal Health Collaborative. This group, comprising Community Care Plan, Broward Health, Urban League of Broward County, and Broward Healthy Start Coalition, opened a Maternity Care & Heart Community Resource Center. The center addresses maternal health holistically, meeting healthcare and social needs.
Similarly, the Florida Keys Maternal Child Health Equity Collaborative was launched to address Monroe County’s gaps in care. This initiative, involving organizations such as the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition and Rural Health Network, has increased access to prenatal care through enhanced care coordination, doula training, and mobile health units.
Advancing Systemic Change
The Health Foundation’s commitment to funding doulas and community-driven solutions addresses barriers to equitable maternal health care. Despite their proven benefits, financial support for doulas remains limited, making the Foundation’s investment crucial.
The state of Black maternal health in South Florida calls for urgent systemic change. By prioritizing equity and collaboration, the Health Foundation strives to ensure that all Floridians have access to quality maternal care, reducing complications and improving outcomes for families. Source: GrantMakers Health
