5 Organizations Supporting Black Maternal Health
This April 11-17 is the fifth annual Black Maternal Health Week. Systemic racism impacts marginalized people in many ways, and unfortunately pregnancy and birth are no exception. An absolutely terrifying fact is that maternal mortality rates are more than 3x higher for Black women compared with white women. Black women are also at higher risk of postpartum depression and anxiety disorders. This is one of the widest of all disparities in women’s health. One of the primary reasons this occurs is due to systemic barriers that prevent racialized communities from accessing health care and birthing support that is trusted and relatable.
The following 5 organizations are committed to promoting equity in Black maternal health. If you’re able, we encourage you to donate to these organizations to support their ongoing efforts.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Founders of Black Maternal Health Week, Black Mamas Matter Alliance is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance. This organization centers Black mamas to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.
Ancient Song Doula Services
Ancient Song Doula Services is an international doula certifying organization founded in the Fall of 2008 in Brooklyn, New York with the goal to offer quality Doula Services to Women of Color and Low-Income Families who otherwise would not be able to afford Doula Care and training a workforce of full-spectrum doulas to address health inequities within the communities they want to serve.
Mamatoto Village
Mamatoto Village is devoted to serving Black womxn through the creation of career pathways in maternal health; and providing accessible perinatal support services designed to equip womxn with the necessary tools to make the most informed decisions in their maternity care, parenting, and lives.
National Birth Equity Collaborative
National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC) was created to combat the increasing rate of infant mortality within the most marginalized populations — Black and brown people. They shift systems and culture through training, research, technical assistance, policy, advocacy, and community-centered collaboration.
Ocama Collective
Ocama Collective is a community-directed group of birth workers of color, living and working in Canada, who are dedicated to the reclamation of traditional and holistic childbearing and birthing practices, amongst queer and trans BIPOC folx. The Collective seeks to create access to cost-supported full-circle and community-based birth care.