Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA) and the Center for Black Women’s Wellness (CBWW) Launch the Black Birthing Initiative (BBI) Hub
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA) and the Center for Black Women’s Wellness (CBWW) Launch the Black Birthing Initiative (BBI) Hub
Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA), and the Center for Black Women’s Wellness (CBWW) were selected as Georgia's collaborative partners in 2023, supported by the CHC: Creating Healthier Communities’ funded Black Birthing Initiative to reduce Black preterm births.
July 18, 2024 — ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA) and the Center for Black Women’s Wellness (CBWW) are proud to announce the launch of the Black Birthing Initiative (BBI) Hub. This innovative platform aims to serve as a perinatal education content hub, providing video modules, infographics, and blog posts that address the pressing issues of prematurity, infant mortality, and maternal mortality among Black birthing individuals in Georgia.
The CHC: Creating Healthier Communities Black Birthing Initiative is a 3-year, $7-million partnership funded by the Elevance Health Foundation to reduce preterm birth, by establishing collaboratives that leverage the strengths of community-based organizations to provide coordinated care support to expectant Black people. This effort involves a six-part intervention rooted in the voices of Black pregnant individuals and utilizes a race and gender-based Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screening tool. In May of 2023, CHC partnered with HMHBGA and CBWW, in addition to collaborative partners in Cleveland and Detroit.
Recognizing the significant disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, HMHBGA and CBWW have collaborated to create an accessible, culturally relevant, and responsive intervention model. The funding allocated to this initiative enabled the HMHBGA and CBWW to recruit additional birthing staff and establish necessary infrastructure.
As part of this research initiative, the BBI Hub will serve as the main hub for perinatal education content. This platform offers an extensive collection of video modules, infographics, blog posts, and more, covering essential topics such as Labor Support, Prenatal Education, Maternal Nutrition, Postpartum, Baby Care, Returning to Work & Breastfeeding, and other crucial aspects of perinatal health.
“We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Black Birthing Initiative Hub, a vital resource that will empower and support Black mothers and birthing individuals throughout their pregnancy journey,” said Precious Andrews, Director of Special Projects & Innovation at HMHBGA. “By combining our expertise and resources, HMHBGA and CBWW are committed to making a meaningful impact on maternal and infant health outcomes in Georgia.”
“The urgency of this issue cannot be understated,” said Demetrius Geiger, MPH, CHC Program Manager. “We are thankful to continue to partner with HMHBGA and CBWW and look forward to the results of this innovative model.”
The BBI Hub is a testament to the commitment of HMHBGA and CBWW to address health disparities and promote positive outcomes for Black birthing individuals and their babies. The initiative is expected to be crucial in shaping future interventions and policies to create a more equitable and supportive perinatal healthcare system.
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About Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia:
Founded in 1974 as a statewide, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA) is one of the strongest statewide voices for improved access to healthcare and health outcomes for Georgia’s mothers, birth givers and babies. HMHBGA's mission is to improve maternal and infant health through advocacy, education, and access to vital resources. We envision a Georgia where all thrive with equitable access to perinatal resources and knowledge, responsive to each community's needs:
· We ensure that the immediate perinatal health and resource needs of families are supported through our programs and services.
· We are committed to leveraging innovation and collaboration to fill educational and programming gaps for communities experiencing the most significant health inequities.
· We advocate for maternal and infant health policies, influencing policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize the needs of mothers and babies, address disparities, and allocate resources effectively.
· We advance collective advocacy by conducting maternal and infant health research, leveraging data to inform policy and sharing with our allies to foster alignment in our collaborative efforts. Learn more on www.hmhbga.org.
About the Center for Black Women’s Wellness (CBWW):
Over the past 30 years, the Center for Black Women’s Wellness has created a legacy in the Atlanta community. This legacy is one which ensures that women and families will always have access to quality healthcare. We know physical, mental, emotional, and financial health is the foundation for full and productive lives, where individuals can thrive and not merely survive. Our programs, incredible staff and volunteers, and host of partners and service providers address those areas with excellence. We believe in the promise of the individuals we serve,
knowing that as their health and overall wellness improves, families and communities become stronger. Learn more on www.cbww.org
About CHC: Creating Healthier Communities
CHC: Creating Healthier Communities exists so that every person in every community has an opportunity to live their healthiest life. We build partnerships to address health inequities by fostering trusted community engagement, fundraising, and offering programs and services to help support communities where everyone can thrive. Together with partners, we've raised more than $1 billion in unrestricted funds for more than 5,000 nonprofits, addressing the barriers to health and wellbeing. We have a vast network, partnering with more than 650 businesses and organizations representing 17 million individuals. For nearly 70 years, our work has supported the greatest unmet needs for children, individuals, families, and communities—including programs, research, treatments, and care. Join us at chcimpact.org or @chcimpact.
For more information, please contact the BBI team at familysupport@hmhbga.org or 470-373-1916.