Terrell Borum, MSW, LCSW’s Post

Advocacy Update: The state of Black Maternal Health Policies 📢 🔴Disparities Exist: Despite progress, Black maternal mortality rates remain disproportionately high due to systemic issues like racial bias and inadequate healthcare access. 🔴 Policy Push: Advocates are rallying for legislative changes to address root causes. Initiatives focus on funding community-based care, expanding Medicaid coverage, and implementing anti-racism training for healthcare providers. 🔴 Grassroots Impact: From local initiatives to national campaigns, grassroots movements amplify voices and push for meaningful reforms. These efforts center on dismantling barriers and promoting culturally competent care. 🔴 Accountability Matters: Advocates demand accountability from policymakers and healthcare systems to ensure equitable outcomes for Black mothers and babies. Join the conversation. Stand with us for policy changes that prioritize Black maternal health and wellness! 💪🏾

Today marks the beginning of Black Maternal Health Week, which runs through April 17. One in 5 women in America experience mental health conditions like SUD, anxiety and depression. Black Maternal Health Week serves as a crucial reminder of the disparities in maternal healthcare faced by Black women, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change and advocacy. Black mothers experience disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity due to systemic racism, implicit bias and inadequate healthcare resources. We are dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black mothers, advocating for policies that address disparities and providing equitable healthcare to support maternal well-being for every mother.

We have new blogs on our website! One of them is about this year's Black Maternal Health Week, which reminds us of the urgent need to address the stark disparities faced by Black mothers in the U.S., particularly in Washington D.C. While the statistics are heartbreaking, BMHW also symbolizes our collective determination to drive meaningful change. By amplifying Black voices, fostering dialogue, and empowering communities, we can demand equitable access to quality healthcare, competent providers, and comprehensive support services. Beyond raising awareness, action is everything. Read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/e9mfbn7W Click here for other recent First Shift blogs: https://lnkd.in/e55cyfvU #dcnonprofit #dmvarea #legalnews #elderlycare #legal #ward8 #dmvlife #lawyerup #legaladvice #ward8dc #paidfamilyleave #dcfamily #ward7 #disabilityemployment #laborlaw #fmla

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Breaking the chains of systemic racism and trauma, starts with the most innocent among us: our babies. Our goal must be equity, opportunity and the ability for all, regardless of their skin color, to thrive from before birth. Join us in shaping a more equitable future for all children. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3VNjhb6

Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), Black Maternal Health Week is a week of awareness, activism, and community building. BMMA has produced key publications that define the issues and provide solutions by Black mamas. ◾ "Advancing Black Maternal Health, Rights & Justice" - This comprehensive report outlines strategic frameworks for advancing healthcare practices, policies, and community engagement to improve Black maternal health outcomes. ◾ "Black Maternal Health Research Re-Envisioned: Best Practices for the Conduct of Research With, For, and By Black Mamas" - This publication offers innovative research methodologies and practices that prioritize the experiences and voices of Black women, ensuring their representation in maternal health research. In celebration of Black Maternal Health Week, we encourage you to: 📚 Read to understand the depth of the issues. 📚 Learn from the experiences and solutions of Black mamas. 📚 Cite these works to acknowledge and spread crucial knowledge. 📚 Publish your own findings and contribute to this vital discourse and action. Engage with these publications and support the movement towards equity in maternal health. #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #BMMA #MaternalHealthJustice #BMHW24

In honor of National Minority Health Month, the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation recognizes the urgent need to address health disparities faced by Black families, especially Black mothers throughout Ohio. According to the Ohio Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Program, approximately 2,000 Ohio mothers suffer from severe maternal comorbidities. The overall infant mortality rate in Ohio for white babies was 5.4 deaths per 1,000 births, lower than the national average. Yet, for black babies in Ohio, the infant mortality rate was 14 deaths per 1,000 births. These glaring statistics paint a bleak picture for future generations and highlight the need to enact legislation such as State Representative Humphrey’s Strong Foundations Act (HB 7), which creates stale housing initiatives and expands Medicaid access. Or Senator Hicks-Hudson and Senator Reynolds Doula Bill (SB 93) as Black women disproportionately face discrimination in traditional birthing environments. By continuing to advocate for policies that will eliminate infant mortality and black maternal morbidity disparities throughout Ohio, together, we can pave the way for healthier Black families for future generations to come.

At Life Ed, we believe that every child deserves to thrive in communities where all people feel safe. That's why we support the voices calling for action to stop violence against women. The issue of family and domestic abuse and violence is complex. It needs to be addressed at all levels, with education being one important part of the solution. Find out more about our work in this area as we collaborate with schools, students and communities to encourage respectful relationships early, in order to embed lessons for life: https://bit.ly/3QKL3SL

During our Executive Director, Kellie Simmons, a recent trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina, she and our student mentor, Ena, met with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) regarding 2025 collaborations. Here are a few of the collaborative in the works for our students: - Arts Integrative Education workshops: These workshops will use theater as a tool to process trauma and craft narratives related to conflict and adversity. - Youth Policy and Advocacy: Students will learn to identify global issues affecting them, how policies address societal problems, explore why advocacy is crucial for driving change, and how students can engage in advocacy efforts. - Campaign on 30th Anniversary of Peace: Jericho scholars will create a campaign that voices the stories of young people affected by discrimination and violence."

💓 I'm grateful for Yodit Mesfin Johnson's leadership in this space. Please consider applying for NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work)'s Champions of Change cohort. Through this experience, you’ll: -Deepen your understanding and skills for advancing social and racial justice, equity and inclusion. -Enhance your emotional skills and practices of courage, resilience and compassion to sustain justice work. -Honor the wisdom and experiences of the CFC community by uplifting their knowledge and expertise. -Strengthen your relationships with other justice-focused leaders across SE Michigan. -Identify and upend unjust policies, practices and procedures within your spheres of influence. -Create the conditions for more BIPOC leaders to grow in their leadership across sectors and industries in SE Michigan. Key information about the program schedule and cost can be found on NEW's website. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eTVTA2K9 📅 Deadline to apply is September 9