Alameda County Maternal, Paternal, Child, Adolescent Health (MPCAH) Birth Worker Capacity Building ProjectOverview
MPCAH’s uses a community-centered co-design approach that includes community members who both provide and/or receive services. Community members in the Collaboration offer ongoing feedback during program planning, implementation of services, quality improvement activities, and evaluation. Due to MPCAH’s current programming and partnerships it is well positioned to expand its perinatal and reproductive equity efforts. The plan is to broaden the current scope of the Doula Services Program by partnering with local Doulas and collectives to provide a culturally reflective Doula workforce, funding for administrative and capacity-building support to community partners, and facilitate the onboarding of doulas offering services to Medi-Cal recipients. The Hellman Collaborative Change Initiative GROWTH grant will enable the collaboration to increase the doula workforce by 25% to support Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander and LGBTQIA+ birthing families in Alameda County. The goal of the project is to increase healthy births, healthcare access, and community engagement and improve the economic security of participating doulas. The Collaboration
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The Problem
According to hospital data in Alameda County, Black/ African Americans and Pacific Islanders have a preterm birth rate at 10.1 per 1,000. Pacific Islander families have the highest birth rate at 13.2 per 1,000 population, as well as the highest fetal death rate at 14.6 per 1,000 births. Although Alameda County's Pacific Islander population has similar outcomes to the Black population, they are often included in the larger Asian population data collected, which diminishes their unique experiences. Many of these birthing people lack adequate support in their native language and need a health advocate. However, there is a shortage of doulas to provide culturally specific care and support. Alameda County’s LGBT families’ needs are also largely underrepresented in programs that work to improve birth outcomes for marginalized communities. Due to current methods of data collection, the LGBTQ community’s birth experiences and unique needs are largely unknown and thus unaddressed. “The synergy between our two organizations has resulted in impactful initiatives that address healthdisparities and empower individuals and communities. This partnership is a testament to our mutual dedication to public health and social equity. ” - Dr. Sayida Peprah-Wilson ED Diversity Uplifts.
“we commend the MPCAH Unit for its efforts to engage stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to collectively address the challenges facing birthing families in Alameda County.”- Linda Jones, ED Black Women Birthing Justice For more information, contact:
Daphina Melbourne Perinatal Equity Initiative Coordinator Alameda County Public Health Dept. [email protected] |