SEMPQIC - Southeast Michigan Perinatal Quality Improvement Coalition

In the developed world, the United States is the most dangerous place to give birth—especially for women of color. Grasping the extent of maternal health disparities is the first step in being able to provide support to expectant mothers in your community. This is the work of SEMPQIC - working to address the alarming maternal mortality rates for Black women in Southeast Michigan. #maternalmortality #Healthdisparities Learn more at sempqic.org

🔍 Are you a healthcare provider looking to make a difference in maternal and infant health for Black and Brown families? SEMPQIC has a resource for you. Our Detroit Healthy Equity Education Resource offers vital resources and tools to support you. 💡 Empower your practice today: https://buff.ly/3sSYeYx #HealthEquity #MaternalHealth #HealthcareHeroes #DHEER #DetroitHealth

In the United States, the richest mothers and their newborns are the most likely to survive the year after childbirth — except when the family is Black, according to a groundbreaking new study of two million California births. The richest Black mothers and their babies are twice as likely to die as the richest white mothers and their babies. Research has repeatedly shown that Black mothers and babies have the worst childbirth outcomes in the United States. But this study is novel because it’s the first of its size to show how the risks of childbirth vary by both race and parental income, and how Black families, regardless of their socioeconomic status, are disproportionately affected. Read more:

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services partners with Count the Kicks to improve maternal health and birth outcomes through stillbirth prevention program The Division of Maternal and Infant Health is excited to launch the Count the Kicks initiative, an evidence-based stillbirth prevention education campaign. Please see the attached press release, for more information about the initiative and links to access the Count the Kicks website to order free materials. Providers can use these resources to help discuss baby movement patterns with expectant parents. These materials are available in Arabic, English and Spanish. Join them for a FREE virtual webinar on Count the Kicks: Date: June 24 | Time: 9:00AM EST Register here! https://buff.ly/456UjXa

Have you heard about the Parent Leadership Training through Parents Partnering Change? The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Education and the Children's Trust Michigan is hosting a Parent Leadership training teaches parents how to participate in advisory boards or committees that improve family programs and services The FREE 2024 Virtual Training Dates are June 10, 11 & 12; July 22, 23, & 24 and August 12, 13 & 14. Register Here! https://buff.ly/3Rc4hRs

Save the Date! One of our Advancing Healthy Birth grantees has announced their health empowerment program: The Payton Harvey Cheer Empowerment Camp is scheduled for August 3 & 4, 2024. In partnership with Child's Play Foundation, funded by the State of Michigan Public Health Department. More details to come. #advancinghealthbirths

Given our focus on health equity, we enjoyed this article. Carlie Austin, BSN, RN, Maternal Infant Health Policy Specialist at the MHA attended the second annual Michigan Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Summit this year and penned this great review of her time there. "In my role as Maternal Infant Health Policy Specialist at the MHA, one of my main goals has been to utilize my expertise to inspire health equity for marginalized birthing persons and their children and to build relationships that strengthen my impact and purpose." Read her article that shared her three takeaways about how purposeful impact is achieved. #healthequity #healthequality

Save the date for the MDHHS & SEMPQIC Community & Family Town Hall Meeting! SEMPQIC welcomes you to join us, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association at a Community & Family Town Hall Meeting to discuss healthy births, families, and communities. Anyone interested in the health and wellbeing of families is welcome to attend. Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 5:00pm – 7:00pm Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association, 19750 Burt Rd #205, Detroit Refreshments will be served. More information coming soon.

John Hopkin's Center for Communications Programs, Tina Suliman writes: "The maternal mortality crisis in the United States emphasizes the truth behind this declaration: It is racism, not race, that is killing America’s Black mothers and babies."