Advancing the Village to Hold the Mother: Black Maternal Health Week Webinar
Monday, April 13, 2020 | 12pm - 1:30pm EST
Register HERE
Please join co-host New Voices for Reproductive Justice, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda and Maternal Wellness Village for this informational session on the bill packages introduced on the Pennsylvania state level and Federal level impacting Black Maternal Health. We will discuss in depth bill package introduced by Pennsylvania State Representative Morgan Cephas of Philadelphia and the Momnibus bill introduced by U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood. Speakers include, Rep. Morgan Cephas, 192nd Legislative District, Lexi White, Senior Policy Manager, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, and Aasta D. Mehta, MD, Women’s Health Policy Advisory, Philadelphia Department of Health, Division of Maternal, Child and Family Health.
OUR VISION:Our vision is to educate individuals, Black and Brown families and allies on the impact of maternal health at the federal, state and local level. It is our goal to organize hundreds of Black mothers, parents, and health care providers and community leaders from across Pennsylvania to advocate at our State's Capital in Harrisburg for Black Maternal Health. *Our Black Maternal Health Advocacy Day originally scheduled for May 6 has been postponed until further notice. |
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THE PROBLEM:In the United States, too many women are suffering from pregnancy-related complications that lead to serious injury or death. The U.S. currently ranks lower than all other developed countries when it comes to maternal death ratios. Some women are more at risk than others. Black women are 3-4x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. |
THE SOLUTION:The United States could avoid about 40% of maternal deaths if all women - regardless of race, education, age and zip code - had access to quality health care. In addition to improving health care access and quality, government actors must address the intersectional root causes of Black maternal mortality and morbidity. These causes include socioeconomic inequalities, racial discrimination and gender based violence in the healthcare system and our society. |
Everyone wants to hold the baby, who will hold the mother?
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“Everyone wants to hold the baby, who will hold the mother?" is more than a quote or a catchy phrase. Coined by Licensed Social Worker and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Jabina Coleman, it is the center of her work as a reproductive psychotherapist and Lactation Consultant. It is a call to action highlighting the lack of support Black women and birthing folx are receiving before, during and after pregnancy. This call to action addresses the maternal mortality crisis that is affecting Black women who are dying three to four times the rate of their white counterparts. It is shedding light on the fact that in the latest study in Philadelphia nearly 50% of the women who died in the first year postpartum had a mental health diagnosis. It is educating birth workers, families, and communities on the importance of advocacy for equitable and safe maternal health practices. It is addressing breastfeeding disparities. Lastly, it is holding legislators accountable for holding Black women and folx at the center of policymaking for Black maternal health.
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Download Our Advocacy Toolkit HERE
#BMHW2020 #HoldTheMother #BlackMamasMatter
The four tenants of holding the mother are: Awareness, Access, Accountability and Action.
Awareness:We aim to bring awareness to the maternal health crisis affecting Black women in the United States.
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OUR PARTNERS:
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