Brooklyn Communities Collaborative (BCC) has announced that it will distribute $963,670 in grants to 10 organizations to address the maternal health crisis in Brooklyn. Maternal mortality rates for Black and Brown women in New York City remain disturbingly high, with Black mothers being 9 times more likely to die in childbirth than white mothers. Brooklyn has the most pregnancy-related deaths among all boroughs, with the highest numbers affecting neighborhoods in Central and East Brooklyn. In Brownsville, Canarsie, and East New York, the preterm birth rate is 1.5 times than the average for the rest of the borough.
Reports from the New York State Health Department confirm the stark racial and ethnic disparities of this health crisis and reveal the inequities in care access for Black and Brown women. The most recent report for New York State shows that a total of 121 maternal deaths occurred from 2018-2020, with nearly 75% of deaths having at least some chance of being prevented. Calls to action have included recognizing structural racism and discrimination, eliminating health disparities, improving access to doula services, and supporting mental health.
“For too long, Black and Brown mothers in Brooklyn have been disproportionately impacted by the maternal health crisis,” said Brooklyn Borough Resident Antonio Reynoso. “We cannot secure better outcomes for mothers and infants without first addressing this disparity and identifying the parts of our borough that are most vulnerable. By investing in CBOs that work directly with the most impacted communities, Brooklyn Communities Collaborative is empowering smaller organizations to tackle this crisis and improve maternal health in their own neighborhoods.”
The organizations selected for funding are working to address the crisis in Brooklyn communities with the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality. Efforts range from offering pre- and post-natal services and supplies, expanding educational opportunities and community outreach, providing doulas and mental health services, and studying the factors at the root of this health disparity.
Below is a full overview of the 10 organizations included in the grant program:
- Anne Kastor Brooklyn Free Clinic: $24,000 to expand community outreach and educational opportunities, as well as medication access across Brooklyn.
- Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health: $124,039 to leverage local community assets to address the maternal health crisis in Brooklyn, and particularly in Bedford Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, East New York, Brownsville, Flatbush, Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay.
- Brooklyn Perinatal Network: $250,000 to invest in studies of upstream and downstream factors impacting the availability and access to community and social services that address health related social needs.
- Caribbean Women’s Health Association: $125,000 to strengthen community outreach, workshops, and counseling services surrounding sexual health, birth control, and chronic disease management.
- Christopher Rose Community Empowerment Campaign: $75,000 to support a program expansion to include engaging fathers, grandmothers and supportive family members/network.
- Expecting Relief: $50,000 to expand their maternal relief pre- and post-natal services within the communities of East New York, Brownsville, Williamsburg and Bushwick.
- Little Essentials: $50,000 to provide diapers, clothes, and other essential items to families across Brooklyn with low incomes.
- Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center: $48,320 to support Project Imhotep, a holistic community-driven community outreach campaign for Black mothers across Brooklyn.
- Seeds in the Middle: $50,000 for prenatal movement and yoga classes, breathing classes, emotional support services, and a fresh food pantry.
- The Alex House Project: $167,311 to continue providing career opportunities, comprehensive doula services and mental health, case management and psychotherapy/education sessions.
Updated: October 31, 2024. Main Image: Brooklyn Communities Collaborative convenes leaders in Brooklyn maternal health for a roundtable discussion (Credit: Brooklyn Communities Collaborative).
