April 11th – 17th is BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK (BMHW) IN WORCESTER
UMASS Events: Welcome to Black Maternal Health Week 2024 at UMass!
Held annually on April 11-17th, BMHW is a week-long campaign founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to build awareness, activism, and community building to amplify the voices, perspectives and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people. The week is intentionally held during National Minority Health Month and begins on April 11th annually to join dozens of global organizations in marking this day as International Day for Maternal Health and Rights – an opportunity to advocate for the elimination of maternal mortality globally.
Register: HERE
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City of Worcester Maternal and Child Health Event:
Each year, Black Maternal Health is recognized from April 11th – 17th to bring attention and action to improving Black Maternal Health. The week is held during National Minority Health Month. Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, this week aims to build community awareness and activism as well as amplify the voices, perspectives, and lived experiences of Black Mamas and birthing people.
As part of this year’s celebration, the Worcester Division of Public Health (WDPH) in collaboration with UMASS, UHAI for Health and the Massachusetts Organization of African Descendants will host an event. This event will include a keynote speaker followed by a discussion with a panel of local experts who will be talking about the pressing issues surrounding Black Maternal Health in Worcester.
Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Time: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Place: Worcester City Hall – Levi Lincoln Room, 3rd Floor
455 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01610 Or Virtually
Register: HERE
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2024 UMASS Multicultural Women’s Health Summit:
The UMass Chan Medical School Multicultural Women’s Health Summit is excited to be a sponsor for the Glo-Mom Initiative in recognition of Black Maternal Health Week, taking place on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Black Maternal Health Week is an annual observance focused on raising awareness about the maternal health disparities that disproportionately affect Black mothers in the United States. This week-long initiative aims to address and highlight issues such as higher maternal mortality rates, inadequate healthcare access, and systemic disparities that contribute to adverse maternal outcomes among Black women. The goal is to promote dialogue, advocacy, and policy changes to improve the overall maternal health and well-being of Black mothers. Join us at the UMass Chan Medical School Campus for an exciting free health and wellness event for pregnant people and parents of children ages 0-2.
Date: Saturday, April 13, 2024
Time: 12:00 – 3:30 pm
Place: 55 Lake Avenue, Worcester
Register: HERE
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The Glo-Mom Initiative joins with organizations to provide comprehensive pregnancy, postpartum and family care services, classes, and support groups to help pregnant women and new families thrive during the various stages of pregnancy and parenting. It is their hope to improve the livelihood, confidence, health, and experience of the women and families they support. Glo Mom is a maternal health and wellness advocacy organization that seeks to amplify the voices of women, bringing light to our journey through motherhood and finding hope in every story. In addition to advocacy efforts, Glo Mom also provides education services and curate space for building community and support around mothers. Together, UMass Chan Medical School and Glo Mom will be hosting a Community Baby Shower. The Community Baby Shower connects women in need with subject matter experts on prenatal care, lactation, childbirth, exercise, nutrition and postpartum health with an effort to reduce the gap in accessible prenatal care, gathering in a central location for onsite assistance free of charge. The Community Baby Shower also provides attendees with access to the Babies and Bumps Marketplace to acquire essential baby items to reduce the financial burden and stress on families. The Community Baby Shower is a half-day session focusing on Maternal Health and to educate women about the challenges related to the Black Maternal Health Epidemic with the aim of eliminating this issue and addressing the concerns.
Questions?
Please contact: Michelle Horne, LSW, Doula, Maternal & Child Health Specialist, Division of Public Health, City of Worcester, 25 Meade Street, Office 200, Worcester, MA 01610 – Email: hornem@worcesterma.gov