FL advocates highlight philanthropy’s role in supporting Black maternal health

While the United States has made strides in improving maternal care, disparities in access to quality health care persist, particularly for Black women. Studies show Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. Jennie Joseph, a midwife and head of the Commonsense Childbirth Institute in Florida, said one of the biggest challenges Black mothers face in the state is access to care, largely due to economic and structural barriers. “The astronomical cost of the care is prohibitive,” Joseph pointed out. “It could be tens of thousands of dollars before you’re done trying to pay for maternity. We believe those are the reasons for these physiological outcomes like low-birthweight babies, premature babies and mothers who are unhealthy.” Joseph’s organization, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, centers on community-based maternal care, training midwives and doulas to offer culturally sensitive support to Black mothers throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She highlighted the urgent need for philanthropic funding to bridge the gaps left by traditional health care systems, which are often hindered by bureaucratic red tape. Brandi Collins-Calhoun, movement engagement manager for the National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy, said the traditional health care system often...