Inaugural Black Maternal Health Conference Collaboration for Public Health

Public Health spotlighted National Black Maternal Health Week (April 11 – 17) with an event partnership with Care Ring in the 2024 Black Maternal Health Conference. It was an education opportunity for birthing professionals and families. With Black maternal and infant mortality rising at alarming rates nationwide, this conference aimed to address the current gaps in knowledge and practices. The theme of the inaugural conference was Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Improving Black Maternal Health.

“This is a national crisis that must be addressed by each and every community,” said Dr. Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County Public Health director. “We are proud to be in partnership with Care Ring to promote and protect the health of our black maternal patients and their babies through education and collaborative efforts.”

The goal of Care Ring's inaugural Black Maternal Health Conference was to advance Black maternal health by broadening and deepening the community’s awareness and knowledge about the Black maternal health experience. In collaboration with Novant Health and Atrium Health, attendees learned to better understand the role that historical and contemporary injustices contribute to disproportionate and adverse outcomes for Black maternal patients.

Attendees were also informed of wrap-around support services available in our community for Black pregnant and post-partum birthing persons, particularly those who are low-income and at higher risk of medical complications. They were also presented with information about proposed legislation that they can support to help remedy policy issues that contribute to the maternal and infant mortality rate.