With the arrival of Black Maternal Health Week, Cedars-Sinai is deepening its support for the equitable treatment of Black birthing people with a recent round of grants.
Since 2020, the medical center has allocated $6.5 million to 18 nonprofits working to improve prenatal and postpartum outcomes for Black families. The bulk of the funding was issued under Cedars-Sinai’s Black Birth Equity Initiative, established in 2023.
In January, the medical center awarded its second round of funding under the initiative. Thirteen nonprofits received the most recent grants, totaling $2 million.
The initiative has supported the following grantees:
The funding has resulted in an increase in first trimester prenatal visit rates, more widespread utilization of doula and midwife services, expanded birth worker professional development, and broader health education and public awareness campaigns. These efforts also clear the way for new opportunities for those nonprofits, including access to public funding sources and fellowship programs.
Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die or become seriously ill from pregnancy-related complications, compared to white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Black Birth Equity Initiative aligns with Cedars-Sinai’s mission to care for patients across the region. Through its vital work, the medical center aims to help lower mortality rates linked to childbirth and provide mandatory anti-discrimination education to medical staff.
“At Cedars-Sinai, we’re committed to providing excellent, equitable care to every patient who walks through our doors,” said Christina Harris, MD, vice president and chief health equity officer for Cedars-Sinai. “But advancing birth equity also means doing our part in the community—working to remove barriers and support solutions. Through our birth equity grantmaking, we aim to uplift efforts that build trust, improve outcomes and ensure every birthing person is heard and respected.”
Cedars-Sinai is among the largest private funders of Black Birth Equity programs in L.A. County, with the initiative strengthening partnerships with local nonprofits that assist expectant mothers and their families, from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
The medical center will host its first Black Birth Equity Grantee Convening on May 1 in South L.A. The convening will celebrate the collective impact of the shared mission and serve as a forum to discuss future work in the Black birthing space.
“These outstanding nonprofits have deep ties to their communities, and their work will lead to the best outcomes for birthing families across Los Angeles,” said Tshema Nash, DrPH, MPH, who leads the initiative as program officer in the Community Benefit Giving Office. “The proof is undeniable: birthing people who turn to these nonprofits for meaningful support have positive birthing experiences, and are met with compassion and high quality care for themselves and their children.”
Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Working to Improve Black Maternal Health