Since 2018 The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (FFBWW) has partnered with the Dane County Health Council to uncover solutions to lower the incidence of low birth weight babies born to Black mothers in Dane County. Right now we know that babies born to Black mothers in Dane County are 2 times more likely to be born at low birth weight, which puts them at increased risk of significant health challenges, and higher mortality rates. This is one of the significant health challenges we face in Dane County, and in the State of Wisconsin where we presently lead the nation in Black infant mortality, and the gap between the birth outcomes of Black and white babies.
To guide this work, the Foundation For Black Women’s Wellness and its partner EQT By Design conducted an assessment with wide community outreach and engagement to understand the root causes of Black infants low-birth weight. The nine-month study uncovered that stressed Black family systems; generational struggles for economic security and stability; and institutional racism and bias and their impact on Black life and progress are main drivers of inequities in low-birthweight and mortality.
Post assessment and report publication the FFBWW and it’s partners, Equity by Design and the Health Council, have continued to work together to implement solutions that center the Black mother experience and needs to address the root causes and turn the tide on Black Infant low-birth weight and mortality. The Saving Our Babies team is in the process of implementing the following system changes:
Advancing Black Maternal, Child and Family Well-being in Dane County to Improve Birth Outcomes
To learn more about the Black Maternal and Child Health Alliance, visit www.bmhca.org
Read our latest updates on Saving Our Babies
Madison –The Dane County Health Council, the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, and EQT by Design will host a news conference Thursday, February 20 at 8:00 a.m. at the new offices of the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, 6601 Grand Teton Plaza, Suite A2, Madison to update the community on progress on “Saving our Babies: Low Birthweight Engagement” initiative.
The press conference will share updates on key actions and investments to be made by the Dane County Health Council including:
“We are excited about the progress of this collective effort as we work towards a Dane County where Black infants are born healthy. The investments we share today are powerful steps in the right direction, and will continue to center around the voices and needs of Black women and their families” said Lisa-Peyton Caire, founding CEO and President of the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness.
The mission of the Black Maternal and Child Health Alliance (BMCHA) is to work to transform birth outcomes in Dane County by identifying, informing and advancing strategies and approaches that improve reproductive, maternal and newborn health of Dane County’s African American population.
A roundtable discussion with the BMCHA and the Dane County Health Council is scheduled for April where key stakeholders will identify priorities and goals. The first annual Wisconsin Black Maternal & Child Health Summit is scheduled for 2021. There has been commitment to invest in expanding African-American doulas in Dane County as a strategy to support Black women and improve birth outcomes. Doulas are trained, non-medical assistants in childbirth who provide emotional and physical support and assistance to mothers, families, and babies before, during and after pregnancy.
“The Dane County Health Council is proud to support this collective community engagement effort to identify sustainable solutions to improve birth outcomes for babies born to African-American mothers in Dane County. We feel these next steps are moving us closer to eliminating gaps and reducing health disparities in Dane County,” said Dr. Mark Huth, CEO of Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin.
Babies born to African-American mothers in Dane County are two times more likely than white infants to be born with low birth weights, a fact which puts them at risk of significant health challenges and higher infant-mortality rates.
Dane County Health Council is a coalition of health care providers, government and non-profits with a mission to eliminate gaps and barriers to optimal health and reduce disparities in health outcomes in Dane County.
Council members include: Access Community Health Centers, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, Madison Metropolitan School District, Public Health Madison & Dane County, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, United Way of Dane County, UnityPoint Health-Meriter, and UW Health.
In 2018, The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness and EQT by Design led a nine-month long collective community engagement effort in partnership with the Health Council to identify sustainable solutions to low birthweight babies born to African-American mothers in Dane County. They announced their findings in this April 2019 report: https://ffbww.org/savingourbabies/
Madison –The Dane County Health Council, the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, and EQT by Design will host a news conference Thursday, February 20 at 8:00 a.m. at the Madison –The Dane County Health Council and the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness will host a news conference Friday, July 12 at 8:30 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 5701 Raymond Road in Madison to outline next steps after releasing their report: “Saving our Babies: Low Birthweight Engagement” back in April.
A key finding of the engagement is that black women and men in Dane County identify persistent, unchanging racial and economic inequity as key drivers of the disparity in infant birthweights and birth outcomes in the county.
“Now we turn to the work of changing the outcomes in our community. Together we will build a Dane County where Black infants are born healthy and do not experience disparities with low birthweight,” said Lisa Peyton-Caire, founder and president of the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness.
Discussion items will include:
Babies born to African-American mothers in Dane County are two times more likely than white infants to be born with low birth weights, a fact which puts them at risk of significant health challenges and higher infant-mortality rates.
The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness and EQT by Design led a nine-month long collective community engagement effort in partnership with the Health Council to identify sustainable solutions to low birthweight babies born to African-American mothers in Dane County.
Dane County Health Council is a coalition of health care providers, government and non-profits with a mission to eliminate gaps and barriers to optimal health and reduce disparities in health outcomes in Dane County.
Council members include: Access Community Health Centers, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, Madison Metropolitan School District, Public Health Madison & Dane County, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, United Way of Dane County, UnityPoint Health-Meriter, and UW Health.
Madison – Black women and men in Dane County identify persistent, unchanging racial and economic inequity as key drivers of the disparity in infant birth weights and birth outcomes in the county.
That is one key finding of a new report: “Saving our Babies: Low Birthweight Engagement Final Report.” The Dane County Health Council and the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness released the report on African-American infant health in Dane County today in honor of Black Maternal Health Week.
After a nine-month public engagement effort commissioned by the Health Council and led by the Foundation and its project partner EQT By Design, LLC, the report found that African-Americans in Dane County identify the following as root causes of low-birthweight Black infants: stressed Black family systems; generational struggles for economic security and stability; and institutional racism and bias and their impact on Black life and progress. Babies born to African-American mothers in Dane County are two times more likely than White infants to be born with low birth weights, a factor which puts the infants at risk of significant health challenges and higher mortality rates. Recent Public Health Madison & Dane County data show Black infant mortality rates as high as 12.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births during 2016-2018. Wisconsin ranks worst in the nation for Black infant mortality.
The report was not designed as a rigorous research study, but instead focused on a series of community conversations, surveys, and facilitated discussions with nearly 300 participants including over 200 Black women, as well as Black men, health-care professionals, and social services providers who serve Black women and families.
“What we heard definitively from Black women and men is that the poor birth outcomes experienced by many Black families are, in their eyes, driven by larger social and economic forces that exert pressure and persistent stress on their lives as individuals and family units,” said Lisa Peyton-Caire, Founder and President of the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness. “The last nine months of work has been unprecedented in that we were able to engage so many voices. Our charge now is to work in partnership to implement solutions that will secure the long-term health of Black babies in Dane County. This must include intentional steps to improve the well-being of Black families.”
The report identifies 10 consistent themes that emerged from the engagement effort that drew from African American residents from across Dane County:
“These findings align with hundreds of studies that detail how toxic stress and racism throughout the lives of individuals of color impact their well-being. We must focus on the wide-ranging factors that are driving these inequitable birth outcomes. We know these outcomes are not inevitable and can be undone. Working in partnership, we can interrupt this cycle,” said Janel Heinrich, director of Public Health Madison & Dane County.
“This report’s goal was to gather insight, perspective, and feedback from those most significantly and directly affected by this issue: — Dane County’s African-American community,” said Dr. Ken Loving, Access Community Health Centers CEO. “This summary is a powerful first step as we move forward in collaboration toward saving our babies.”
The report also proposed several community-informed next steps and solutions that include:
A press conference outlining specific next steps is expected in July. The full report can be found at here: FFBWW-DCHC Low Birthweight Report_April2019
The Dane County Health Council members include: Access Community Health Centers, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, Madison Metropolitan School District, Public Health Madison & Dane County, SSM Health, United Way of Dane County, UnityPoint Health-Meriter, and UW Health.
Black Maternal Health week is April 11-17.
The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness is proud to partner with the Dane County Health Council as we collectively work to address and uncover solutions for lowering the incidence of low birth weight babies born to Black mothers in Dane County.
Your participation and feedback will enable us to learn more about issues and that may impact the health of mothers and babies as we seek long term solutions.
Right now we know that babies born to Black mothers in Dane County are 2 times more likely to be born at low birth weight, which puts them at increased risk of significant health challenges, and of dying within the first year of life. This is one of the significant health challenges we face in Dane County, and in the State of Wisconsin where we presently lead the nation in Black infant mortality, and the gap between the birth outcomes of Black and white babies.
Over the next several months we will engage Black women, mothers, men, and fathers as the primary experts to inform our understanding of the root causes, drivers and solutions for lowering the incidence of low birth weight.
We are seeking participants who are:
Participants will receive lunch ($25 gift card) after full participation in a session. To inquire about upcoming sessions and eligibility to participate, contact us at:info@ffbww.org or call (608) 709-8840
Funded by The Dane County Health Council:
