October is Black Maternal Health Month in Nebraska, so we are highlighting local nonprofits addressing the complex issues that lead to racial disparities in birth outcomes. These organizations are implementing community-based initiatives, increasing access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare, and providing holistic support.
Nebraska Black Doulas Collective
Black doulas play a crucial role in addressing racial disparities in maternal health outcomes by providing culturally competent and empathetic support to black individulas throughout their pregnancy. Doulas are trained professionals who provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support to their clients before, during, and shortly after childbirth. Their presence not only helps bridge gaps in communication between healthcare providers and clients but also contributes to reducing the high rates of maternal mortality and complications within the black community. By empowering and advocating for black mothers during childbirth, black doulas contribute to creating a more equitable and inclusive maternity care system.
Nebraska Black Doulas Collective is a local nonprofit providing essential care and guidance to families in disinvested communities. Through comprehensive and specialized programs, they enable local doulas to enhance their skills and deepen their knowledge in compassionate care during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum phase.
“We address unique needs with culturally responsive and trauma-informed practices, fostering a community of skilled doulas dedicated to improving maternal and infant health outcomes,” said Aledia Mikale, Executive Director of the Omaha Black Doulas Association. “Our goal is accessible and compassionate doula care for BIPOC families in disinvested communities.”
I Be Black Girl
Reimagining Black maternal health takes strategic, long-term, overarching solutions. I Be Black Girl, a collective for Black women, femmes, and girls to actualize their full potential, is tackling that work on a number of levels.
To address the iniquities, their work includes partnering across Nebraska to address the inequities within the maternal health sector. Learn more about their work surrounding birth justice and postpartum care.
A Mother’s Love
A Mother’s Love is committed to providing multigenerational support to Omaha mothers and their growing families with tailored maternal health and wellness resources. They support people through pregnancy with access to doula services, basic life skills training, case management, childbirth education, a diaper program, and community outreach.
Pathways Community HUB
The Omaha Community Foundation is serving as the Pathways Community HUB for the Omaha metro area. The local program is part of a national initiative to create care coordination networks to serve under-resourced residents. The HUB will contract with agencies that employ Community Health Workers, who will identify at-risk individuals and connect them with medical, behavioral, and social services to remove barriers to health.
In Omaha, the initial phase of the program will focus on addressing health disparities among pregnant and postpartum individuals at greatest risk for poor birth outcomes. In Omaha, Black individuals experience significantly higher rates of preterm birth, and Black infants have a higher mortality rate in the first year of life than infants of other races.
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Consider supporting these nonprofits this Nebraska Black Maternal Health Month through your fund at OCF or consider opening a fund today.