Black Politics Now
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Black Politics Now
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
No Result
View All Result
Black Politics Now
No Result
View All Result

Advancing health equity and fostering collaboration through Black maternal and child health initiatives

Black Politics Now by Black Politics Now
December 11, 2024
in Health
0
Image Source: FreePik

Image Source: FreePik

74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Dec 10, 2024 Story by: Editor

You might also like

Columbus Health Commissioner among 17 vaccine safety panelists fired by RFK Jr.

Sickle cell trait linked to elevated acute heart failure in Black Americans

Understanding prostate cancer trials for Black men

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

Tags: Black child health collaborationBlack maternal health initiativesHealth equity for Black communitiesMaternal health equity programs
Share30Tweet19
Black Politics Now

Black Politics Now

Recommended For You

Columbus Health Commissioner among 17 vaccine safety panelists fired by RFK Jr.

by Black Politics Now
June 11, 2025
0
Columbus Health Commissioner among 17 vaccine safety panelists fired by RFK Jr.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dismissed all 17 members on June 9, of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), including Columbus–Franklin County...

Read moreDetails

Sickle cell trait linked to elevated acute heart failure in Black Americans

by Black Politics Now
May 29, 2025
0
Sickle cell trait linked to elevated acute heart failure in Black Americans

A recent study published in the Annals of Hematology has identified a significant association between sickle cell trait (SCT) and an increased risk of acute heart failure among...

Read moreDetails

Understanding prostate cancer trials for Black men

by Black Politics Now
May 28, 2025
0
Understanding prostate cancer trials for Black men

Prostate cancer remains a significant health concern for men in the United States, with Black men facing a disproportionately higher risk. According to the American Cancer Society, Black...

Read moreDetails

CDC budget ax puts Michigan’s sickle cell lifeline—and Black patients—on the brink

by Black Politics Now
May 20, 2025
0
CDC budget ax puts Michigan’s sickle cell lifeline—and Black patients—on the brink

A recent round of federal budget cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put Michigan’s groundbreaking sickle cell data collection program—and the tens of...

Read moreDetails

Momnibus Act aims to improve maternal health nationally despite budget cuts

by Black Politics Now
May 13, 2025
0
Momnibus Act aims to improve maternal health nationally despite budget cuts

Congressional Democrats have reintroduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (“Momnibus Act”), a sweeping package of legislation designed to tackle the United States’ maternal health crisis. The package...

Read moreDetails
Next Post
Chris Lodgson, the lead organizer for the Coalition for a Just and Equitable California, expressed gratitude to the Sacramento City Council and mayor for their efforts in advancing a resolution that brings the city closer to implementing a reparations initiative. Russell Stiger Jr., OBSERVER.

Sacramento City Council approves historic resolutions to advance racial equity and reparations

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

Related News

Image Source: JS Online

Wisconsin voter ID law still causing confusion, stifles turnout in Milwaukee, voting advocates say

October 21, 2024
The former Greyhound bus station in Montgomery, Alabama, where the Freedom Riders clashed with protesters in 1961. – Chris Pruitt

Montgomery Bus Station, home to the Freedom Rides Museum, listed for sale among hundreds of properties in DOGE reductions

March 14, 2025
Republican members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission converse ahead of a 2023 public hearing on State House district maps. (Photo by Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal.)

Language confirmed for Issue 1, the proposed redistricting amendment

November 1, 2024
Black Politics Now

Get informed on African American politics with "Black Politics Now," your ultimate source for political engagement.

CATEGORIES

  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Congressional Black Caucus
  • Criminal Justice
  • Data
  • Department of Justice
  • Diversity Initiatives
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Enviroment
  • Equity
  • Hate Crimes
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Investigations
  • Legal Defense Fund
  • NAACP
  • Policy
  • Real Estate
  • Reparations
  • Research
  • Sports
  • State Issues
  • Study
  • Supreme Court
  • Technology
  • Voter Rights
  • World

Quick Link

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of service
  • Contact us

Download Our App

© 2024 Black Politics Now | All Right Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
SUBSCRIBE

© 2024 Black Politics Now | All Right Reserved

Join the Movement, Subscribe Now!(Don't worry, we'll never spam you!)

Don’t miss a beat—get the latest news, inspiring stories, and in-depth coverage of the issues that matter most to the Black community. Be part of the conversation and stay connected.

Enter your email address