Advocacy

The Facts:

  • The latest report from the CDC in 2021 states that 83% of all maternal deaths are preventable.
  • Black women in New Jersey die at a rate that is 7 to 8 times of that of their white counterparts.  
  • Income does not protect Black women from these outcomes, in fact wealthy Black women are MORE susceptible to these outcomes.

WE DEMAND CHANGE NOW!

Our message to Our Mamas:

  1. We got your back! We and other Black lead organizations across the state are here for you. Connect with your local community organizations and get support.
  2. Look for a Black provider, we know that health outcomes are improved when Black folks receive medical care from other Black folks.
  3. Get educated- It is hard to advocate for yourself when you don’t know what to expect. Taking a childbirth education class is an underutilized service, especially by black women. Look for educators within your community. Your power is in your voice. Acquire the tools you need to use it.
  4. Don’t be afraid to fire your provider. Your provider is paid by your insurance company to take care of you in a way that is respects and honors your wishes. He/She should LISTEN. A common thread in many maternal deaths and poor outcomes is a provider who didn’t listen. If you ever feel your concerns are being dismissed by your provider, get a new one.

Our message to Healthcare Providers:

If you are a health care provider here are some additional steps you can take right now. We recommend providers follow the STARS:

  1. Stop blaming Black Women for their health outcomes. Black Women are not dying because they were poor, too fat, didn’t eat healthy, or had high blood pressure. White women with identical medical histories don’t suffer the same fate. Structural racism is responsible for these outcomes
  2. Take an antiracism training. It’s not enough to just say you are not racist. You must be antiracist! Being antiracist means you practice cultural humility. You speak out against racist policies and acts, and you hold your colleagues accountable.
  3. Advocate for the implementation of evidence based patient safety bundles such as the protocols developed for hemorrhage and preeclampsia. Standardizing care means that all birthing persons receive the same level of care.
  4. Recognize that it is racism and not race that contributes to poor health outcomes in Black birthing people. Being black is not a risk factor.
  5. Simulation, completed frequently. Being able to practice new policies as a team in a safe environment of simulation will allow staff to be familiar with high risk low incident events.

Our Framework:

PHEI is the movement partner of the state of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. We are committed to moving BMMA initiatives forward at the state level.

Reproductive Justice is a framework developed by SisterSong which operates on their principles:

  1. The right to have children
  2. The right to not have children
  3. The right to raise our children in a healthy and safe environment
black mamas matter sister song