Date and Time
APRIL 2023 | 2 PM ET/11 AM PT | VIRTUAL
Speakers
Michelle Gutiérrez
Senior Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Theresa Watson
Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Event Description
From the deep knowledge passed down by our traditional birth workers to the passing of legislation to include Black and Indigenous representation on the state’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, New Mexico has a long history of birth justice and a unique cultural worldview that is rooted in and shaped by the diverse communities who reside on our beautiful homelands. This is a unique opportunity to learn about our birth justice history and cultural knowledge, the holistic worldview of how New Mexicans see the maternal child health landscape and organizations’ ongoing efforts to advance birth justice for children and families through a WKKF report “Advancing Racial Equity in Maternal-Child Health and Addressing Disparities through a Reproductive and Birth Justice Lens – Report Summary”. This report expands upon earlier healthy birth and early development work at WKKF by critically examining how local community-based organizations are addressing maternal-child health-racial inequities and disparities. While home visiting, breastfeeding, doulas and baby-friendly hospitals are essential strategies for improving maternal-child health, a health gap still exists for women and families of color, as evidenced by high infant and maternal mortality rates and low infant birth weight rates in New Mexico, particularly for women of color. While the maternal-child health strategies may improve access to care for women and families of color, they do not necessarily translate to quality of care. “Evidence-based” practices will not lead to changed outcomes for W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) target populations if racial equity is not addressed and foundational in the work. The report explores how WKKF grantees are addressing, advocating for, and implementing actions to advance equity to improve maternal-child health outcomes.