33rd Annual Public Health Equity Conference

SisterFriends Detroit modeled after the Birthing Project USA, a national program proven to be successful at increasing positive birth outcomes. The Detroit Health Department began the SisterFriends Project to provide mentorship,support and education to pregnant women in the city of Detroit. This session will discuss the program, its outcomes, and expansion within the community.

Hosted by SisterFriends.

Group prenatal care is widely understood as a protective form of care with demonstrated success in improving birth outcomes for vulnerable populations. Specifically, CenteringPregnancy is an evidence based group prenatal care model that is currently being used at various clinics throughout the country and internationally. Henry Ford Hospital System is the first community pilot of the program that incorporates a Community Health Worker (CHW) as a key change agent within a group prenatal care practice. There is empirical evidence in the research to support the role of the CHW in various settings including working with pregnant women, however there is not much in the literature about group prenatal care that is enhanced by a CHW component and this project serves to fill this gap. This presentation will cover an overview of our enhanced model of GPC and our birth outcomes so far.

Hosted by Women Inspired Neighborhood (WIN) Network.

Maternal mortality and morbidity, preterm birth, birth defects, and low birth weight are devastating issues that are disproportionately experienced by Black mothers in Southeast Michigan. We will explore how Region 9 and other Perinatal Quality Collaboratives across the state are using regional data and evidence-based strategies to collectively address disparities in birth outcomes and health equity.

Hosted by Region 9.

The breakout session will explore the role of state government public health as a partner in the actualizing black reproductive justice. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Mother and Infant Health and Equity Improvement Plan (often referenced as The Improvement Plan), and related programs of the Department will be discussed in the context of opportunities for this work. Critical partners, corresponding processes, and inherent challenges will also be explored.

Hosted by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

This session will discuss health disparities in the black community. We will discuss how bias affects the treatment of black women in labor. Particularly, how this bias leads to high infant and maternal mortality. This session will end with presenting multiple avenues for participants to get involved in Mothering Justice’s policy work and Black Maternal Health Campaign.

Hosted by Mothering Justice.

iDecide Detroit launched in late 2018 with the aim of reducing unintended teen pregnancy by reducing barriers to accessing care include long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs), increasing knowledge in the community around adolescent reproductive health, and strengthening the existing healthcare system. This program utilizes three strategies that are interconnected and mutually reinforcing. 

Hosted by the Detroit Health Department/iDecide.

Recently, there has been an important growing awareness of the rate of preventable maternal harm and maternal death, partly stemming from racial inequalities in maternal and birth outcomes in the United States. With support from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), Henry Ford Health System has partnered with community organizations throughout Detroit and the state of Michigan, as well as mothers with lived experience, to codesign solutions to improving maternal health for black women. The goal of these solutions are to build trust, improve outcomes, and ensure our health systems work better for mothers. This session will detail the work and lessons learned by Henry Ford Health System and its partners throughout the Better Maternal Outcomes Initiative.

Hosted by the Henry Ford Hospital.

The Michigan Prison Doula Initiative and the Prison Birth Project at the University of Michigan present a model for tying together the roles of multiple organizations to create positive systematic change. Through the unique action of each stakeholder, we propose a solution for overcoming barriers using strategic collaboration.

Hosted by Prison Birth Project/Michigan Prison Doula Initiative.

Health equity is about health outcomes and systems leadership. By leading in our own care, Birth Detroit invites courageous questioning of not only inequity in maternal health outcomes but of the inequities deeply rooted in our maternal health systems and current approaches. The mission of Birth Detroit is to midwife safe, quality, loving care through pregnancy, birth, and beyond. We are no longer asking permission to save our own lives. Come learn about planning for Detroit’s first freestanding birth center.

Hosted by Birth Detroit.