Overview

In Los Angeles County, Black women are 4x more likely to die from childbirth than White women even when you control for socioeconomic factors. Research shows that racism throughout Black women’s lives, bias, and differential care experiences are the root causes. This experience is shared by Black women across lines of class, education, maternal attitudes and behaviors.
"It is critical to continue elevating the leadership of Black women, so that we can bring our lived experiences, wisdom, and community-defined solutions to the front and center of the discussion."

The Cherished Futures approach

Cherished Futures is a unique, multi-sector collaborative initiative that aims to reduce Black infant mortality and improve patient experience and safety for Black mothers and birthing people. The project is currently centered in Los Angeles County, though the need exists throughout the region. Guided by the data and grounded in Black women’s experiences, Cherished Futures we bring together decisionmakers from local birthing hospitals, public health departments, health plans, and Black women community leaders to co-design systems-change solutions at the clinical, institutional, and community levels.

Cherished Futures is a joint initiative of the Public Health Alliance, Communities Lifting Communities, and the Hospital Association of Southern California.
Learn More

Additional Resources

Black Maternal Health Week: Centering Black Women’s Leadership and ExperiencesShifting the Power Paradigm: Centering Community to Build a Healthy, Equitable, and Just FuturePublic Health Alliance Team Statement: Racism is a Public Health CrisisHealth Equity Snapshot: Racial EquityHealth Justice Strategies Advancing Health & Racial Equity Page