Our vision is for Black and Brown communities to enter a new world where birth is a safe, healthy, and joyful experience for all.

The Maternal Health Equity Collaborative centers Black women and women of color in leading the collaborative and within the community we serve. The approach to service provision is not prescriptive or based on hypothetical needs but based in the actual needs of the community from a space of solidarity. The MHEC is building community through humanization, healing, and creating a legacy for generations to come.

The MHEC was forged out of necessity in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that Black birthing people have access to equitable perinatal care and organizations have community support. The group began as a place to build power and advocate for doulas and birth workers to remain in the hospitals in spite of restrictive policies that further isolated black birthing families and put them at risk. After solidifying doulas as essential members of the healthcare team with local hospitals, MHEC then conducted an internal needs assessment using human-centered design to analyze current services and understand the gaps in care for perinatal folks in the region. With the data organization Measure’s support, we conducted a BIPOC lived experience survey to gain further input on community needs. From this, the Perinatal Childcare Program for Black Families and other efforts of reproductive justice were derived. The Childcare program was created because many Black families were having Child Protective Services (CPS) called on them when they would show up to give birth without adequate childcare for their other children. The program now provides free,  care for families during birth, perinatal health appointments and for respite during postpartum.  

The MHEC became a 501c3 nonprofit on October 17, 2024 with 20, mostly Black and Brown woman co-founders.

Maternal Health Equity Collaborative

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Teams

Offices

Maternal Health Equity Collaborative

Org chart

Teams

Offices

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