Riverside University Health System – Public Health (RUHS-PH) launched a maternal health equity campaign, Rallying Around Sisters: Redefining & Strengthening the Village, to address high mortality among pregnant Black women and their infants.

The campaign aims to increase awareness of free, local assistance such as prenatal education, doula services, breastfeeding support and positive parenting classes for fathers.

“It is imperative that we address disparities in birth outcomes for Black women and their families,” said Stephanie Bryant, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Director for RUHS-PH. “Riverside County has numerous resources available to ensure a healthy pregnancy and early childhood development and we hope more women will take advantage of them.”

Rallying Around Sisters is a campaign supported by RUHS-PH’s Perinatal Equity Initiative and Black Infant Health program, in collaboration with San Bernardino County. The programs include empowerment-focused group support and client-centered life planning.

Black women are at greater risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes than white women, despite education, income or socio-economic status. Infants born to Black mothers have a greater chance of being born prematurely and are twice as likely to die in their first year compared to other ethnic groups.

High-risk pregnancies are addressed through HeRCARe (High-Risk Care Access and Resources), a team of experts experienced in maternal-fetal medicine that offers telehealth for residents in remote areas.

Learn more at ruhealth.org/public-health/black-infant-health and join the conversation on social media @blackinfanthealthrivco on Instagram and BlackInfantHealthofRiversideCounty on Facebook.