Community Collaboratives
CHC’s Black Birthing Initiative supported by Elevance Health Foundation
Strengthening Support
Systems for Black Parents
The Black Birthing Initiative offers free pregnancy support to Black women and birthing people in Atlanta, GA, Cleveland, OH, and Detroit, MI. The program informs research investigating how comprehensive support during pregnancy can improve outcomes for Black mothers and their babies.
During the program you will receive:
- Prenatal education and advocacy sessions provided through home visitation services with a birth advocate, group classes, or through an educational platform
- Monthly assessments and case management meetings with a birth advocate to provide prenatal support
- Guidance to create & complete a birth plan with their designated birth advocate
- Social and support activities with other expecting mothers
To be eligible for the program you must:
- Identify as a Black or African American
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be in your first trimester (up to 20 weeks)
- Reside in Atlanta, GA, Cleveland, OH, or Detroit, MI.
Through funding from Elevance Health Foundation, CHC launched a 3-year, $7 million project, The Black Birthing Initiative (BBI), in January 2022. The BBI offers non-clinical support addressing racism, stress and social determinants of health.
The BBI emphasizes comprehensive needs assessments and community-led partnerships to address the maternal health crisis.
Our Black Birthing Initiative Collaborative Partners
Our Black Birthing Initiative Collaborative Partners
A crisis in American
communities
The U.S. maternal mortality rate is three times that of other high income countries. Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes in the U.S. and 50% more likely to deliver a premature baby (CDC). A staggering 4 in 5 pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.
Our Needs Assessment
Building a Case Study
Our community collaboratives are now enrolling expectant parents in our needs assessment survey, which will help CHC create an evidence-based case study with a standardized screening tool and interventions that will later be leveraged by health systems nationwide.
Our Next Phase
A 3-year Partnership
Our needs assessment screening and collaboratives are the next step in our 3-year grant funded through Elevance Health Foundation. CHC has also built program infrastructure, held a series of focus groups and completed a literature review informing our work.
Pillars of CHC
Health Equity
CHC exists so that every person in every community has an opportunity to live their healthiest lives. Maternal health is one of our awareness and access focus areas, along with mental health equity and cancer continuum. If you are pregnant or post-partum, raise your voice and help women across the country by taking the needs assessment.
