KC Health Equity

Vote Yes on Prop A and Amendment 3. Check out this call to action from Health Forward CEO, Qiana Thomason. https://lnkd.in/gW6xr9mv

Voting is a social driver of health. Your vote is your voice in this consequential election. November 5 is the last day to cast your vote. Vote, and encourage others to do the same. Find early voting locations near you: Kansas: https://lnkd.in/gvFpGqa4 Missouri: https://lnkd.in/gSc68brB

In 2024, the Task Force on Maternal Mental Health recognized maternal mortality as a priority issue in the U.S. As national and state efforts to address maternal mortality through improved public health data collection have increased, maternal suicide has emerged as one of the top three causes of pregnancy-associated deaths, highlighting the need to address maternal suicide as a contributing factor of maternal mortality in the U.S. It is estimated that up to 20% of perinatal maternal deaths are due to suicide, making maternal suicide deaths more common than deaths caused by postpartum hemorrhage or hypertensive disorders. As for Missouri, mental health is the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths. Download the latest Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review: https://lnkd.in/dqJ-DUHW #MaternalMortality #MaternalMentalHealth

During a recent KC LAN convening, McClain Bryant Macklin, JD, MBA, emphasized that the challenges surrounding DEI at the federal level are intensifying similar issues at the state level. She underscored the importance of staying active and vigilant, describing our efforts as "boots on the ground" for critical issues impacting our community.  #HealthEquity #DEI #HealthForwardFoundation

ReDiscover CEO Jennifer Craig said, when asked about adjusting to the new DEI political barriers in Missouri and Kansas, “It’s not about what we call it; it’s about who we serve.”  #KCHELAN #DEI

In the Giving Voice to Mothers (GVtM) study, Black women described perinatal care experiences with considerable violations of the Black Birthing Bill of Rights (BBBR), including disrupted time with babies, racially discordant care, and unaffordable care. These experiences illustrated all six domains of obstetric racism. They include: neglect, dismissiveness, or disrespect; medical abuse; coercion; intentionally causing pain; ceremonies of degradation; and diagnostic lapse. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ge57d_Dq #BBBR #BlackMaternalHealth

“Our goal for our Community Activation Team is to assemble organizations that are doing great work to help people heal, to live their best lives, to receive the health and mental health care that they need and deserve – to put together a campus model where there are multiple organizations that share a space making it easier for people to receive services in one designated place”. - Courtney Thomas, President/CEO of New House  #KCHELAN #DomesticViolence

“Regardless of your #immigration status, or if you are able to get insurance or not, health equity is being able to get timely health care access to #cancer treatment.”   - Justin Gust, Vice President of Community Engagement, El Centro Learn more about the work of the #KCLAN Action Teams at KCHealthEquity.org

“Being a part of the Learning Action Network has been an incredible experience for us. It’s been really helpful in setting the structure for us on how we are going to approach health equity. It’s given us the time and space to pause and think about that. Our goal is to allow every single person to reach their full health potential.” - Marsha Weaver - Vice President/Chief Population Health Officer, Saint Luke’s Health #KCHELAN #HealthEquity

“I enjoy learning about the different perspectives that exist outside of my experience. I am able to hear the stories and gain from the wisdom that people bring to the LAN – and then bring that back to my work.” - Bob Golen, Quality & Evaluation, KC Care Health Center #KCHELAN #HealthEquity