In recent news, a Louisville nonprofit has been awarded $5.5 million in federal funding for a new maternal health program. Black Birth Justice, an organization established in 2021, aims to protect the health of Black mothers and tackle maternal and infant mortality. The group was granted the Healthy Start grant through a subagency of the Department of Health and Human Services to launch its “Healthy Beginnings Connect Us” program in August.
The program seeks to assist around 700 families annually with access to healthcare services such as doula and midwife care, educational resources for birthing and caregiving, and necessities like diapers, wipes, and car seats. Black Birth Justice’s team includes experts in maternal and children’s health who have previously participated in the Healthy Start grant program.
Meka Kpoh, founder and executive director of Black Birth Justice, believes that now is the ideal time for families most impacted by the Healthy Start grant to lead the work through Healthy Beginnings Connect Us. Victoria Jones, project director and former grant participant, is excited about the opportunity to be involved in the new project. She credits her experience as a grant participant for enabling her to grow and positively impact her community. Jones emphasizes the importance of connecting with one another to improve the health of families and the community as a whole.
Black Birth Justice aims to address systemic racism that contributes to disparities in maternal health outcomes among Black women by providing culturally responsive care that addresses their unique needs. The organization recognizes that accessing quality healthcare services can be challenging due to factors such as transportation barriers or language barriers. As such, it offers support services such as translation services or transportation assistance.
The Healthy Beginnings Connect Us program will also focus on addressing social determinants of health such as poverty or lack of education about prenatal care. By providing education and resources about prenatal care early on, Black Birth Justice hopes to reduce rates of premature births or low-birth weight babies among Black infants.
Overall, this new maternal health program represents an important step towards improving health outcomes for Black women in Louisville. With its focus on culturally responsive care and addressing social determinants of health, Black Birth Justice has positioned itself as a leader in this field.
