Cherished Futures for Black Moms & Babies on Wednesday held the latest in an ongoing series of conversations about maternal health in the African-American community. The session coincided with Black Maternal Health Week — the nationwide awareness week created to educate on the toll racism, implicit bias and other factors take on the wellbeing of Black moms, children and birthing people.

Cherished Futures’ Melissa Franklin, EdD delivered opening remarks at the virtual discussion, underlining the scope of work that remains to be accomplished beyond this week’s recognition.

“It’s not about the moment. It’s about the momentum,” she said. 

Melissa Franklin, EdD delivered opening remarks at April 14’s Cherished Futures event marking Black Maternal Health Week.

Franklin is CEO of Growth Mindset Communications and is Pritzker Fellow for First 5 LA — leading L.A. County Department of Public Health’s and First 5 LA’s effort aimed at disparities in Black maternal health.

Also at April 14’s event, Cherished Futures recognized three Southern California hospitals that form the collaborative’s year-two cohort — which is now implementing action strategies to move the needle toward a more nurturing world for Black moms and children.

The participating hospitals include: Cedars-Sinai, Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center, and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, Torrance. 

For more on Cherished Futures’ recent virtual discussion, read this week’s press release – which provides a roundup with additional news and where to go to learn more. 

Cherished Futures is a regional action project administered by HASC’s community health initiative Communities Lifting Communities.

This year, the collaborative of nearly 80 clinicians, hospital administrators, the public health department, payers, and Black women community advisors are rolling out strategies to create change. They are supported by a team of quality improvement experts and a Black-women community advisor collective that elevate the lived experiences of Black families in Los Angeles to inform quality improvement.  

Cherished Futures is generously funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, First 5 LA, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, the California Health Care Foundation, and Health Net / Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare. 

To learn more, visit www.cherishedfutures.org.

With questions on Communities Lifting Communities or Cherished Futures, please contact CLC Executive Director Susan Harrington. 

Contact:
Susan Harrington
(562) 884-2383
sharrington@hasc.org