Community Collaboratives

CHC’s Black Birthing Initiative supported by Elevance Health Foundation

Strengthening Support

Systems for Black Parents

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

Cleveland

We’re partnering with Birthing Beautiful Communities, serving women in Cleveland, and Village of Healing in Cleveland and in Cuyahoga County.

Cleveland Collaborative

Indianapolis

We’re establishing Community Leadership Action Boards with Health by Design, Indiana University and Indianapolis maternal health stakeholders.

Indianapolis CoLABs

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.

BBI Needs Assessment Markets: California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.