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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 04-01-2025; 8-g - Black Maternal Health Week Proclamation 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 1, 2025 Action Agenda Item No. 8-g SUBJECT: Black Maternal Health Week Proclamation DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Proclamation Quintana Stewart, Health Director, 919- 245-2412 PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation designating April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week in Orange County. BACKGROUND: National Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) is observed annually from April 111" to 171". It is a week of awareness and action aimed at highlighting the disparities in maternal health outcomes for Black women in the United States. The 2025 Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW25) theme, "Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy," emphasizes the power of Black-led perinatal, maternal, and reproductive health organizations to drive systemic change and foster community healing. The theme acknowledges the persistent legacies of systemic oppression(s), reproductive injustices, and health inequities that have disproportionately affected Black Mamas and people. It emphasizes the need for healing at both individual and community levels while addressing the need for restorative approaches to maternal health care. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this proclamation. ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports: • GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY OBJECTIVE 7. Invest in services and programs that improve the health and quality of life of the community (e.g., recreation and public open spaces, arts, etc.) RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the attached proclamation designating April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week in Orange County. 2 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING APRIL 11 -17, 20259 AS BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK WHEREAS, Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW) was founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to increase awareness around the state of Black Maternal Health and promote activism and investment in solutions; and WHEREAS, the National Black Maternal Health Week 2025 theme, "Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy," emphasizes the power of Black-led perinatal, maternal, and reproductive health organizations to drive systemic change and foster community healing; and WHEREAS, in the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy- related cause than White women, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes that more than 80% of pregnancy related deaths are preventable'; and WHEREAS, in North Carolina, the overall rate of maternal death is higher than the U.S. average, noting that in 2021, the state's maternal mortality rate was 44 deaths per 100,000 births according to CDC data2; and WHEREAS, in 85 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in North Carolina in 2018 and 2019, there was "at least some chance of the death being averted by one or more reasonable changes"2; and WHERAS, 39% of Black women in North Carolina receive late or no prenatal care, compared to only 24% of white women, meaning they are less likely to be diagnosed and treated for pregnancy-related complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and fetal conditions3; and WHEREAS, as many as 50% of Black women experiencing maternal mental health disorder symptoms fail to receive adequate help4; and WHEREAS, research demonstrates that the services of diverse birth workers, health advocates, community organizations, and healthcare providers are a crucial component of eliminating disparities, enhancing Black maternal safety and improving birth and health outcomes; and WHEREAS, we recognize and uplift community-based responses to addressing this crisis and we promote initiatives that reduce Black maternal morbidity and mortality such as doula services, midwifery services, peer support, mutual aid and mental wellness support; and 3 WHEREAS, Black women deserve to have beautiful pregnancy and birth experiences with access to care of their choice through being empowered and resourced to make informed decisions based on their needs; and WHEREAS, we acknowledge the urgency in addressing the Black maternal health crisis in Orange County and across North Carolina; NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim April 11th through April 17th, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week in Orange County. This the 1st of April 2025. Jamezetta Bedford, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners CDC Women's Health (2024). Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality: https://www.cdc.gov/womens-health/features/maternal-mortality.html 2 NC Health News (2024). Reducing maternal death rates for Black women will take concerted, cooperative action. https://www.north carol ina health news.org/2024/04/16/reducing-m ate rnal- death-rates-for-black-women-will-take-concerted-cooperative- action/#:—:text=ln%20 North%20Carolina%2C%20the%20overall,the%20i nvestigative%20news %20organization%20MuckRock. 3 Standard, V., McMillian-Bohler, J., and Devane-Johnson, S. (2023). Black and Pregnant in America: A National Health Care Crisis. https://ncmedical'ournal.com/article/67786-black-and- pregnant-in-america-a-national-health-care-crisis 4 March of Dimes Black Maternal Mental Health Week (2025). https://www.marchofdimes.org/black-maternal-mental-health- week#::text=1%20in%205%20new%20moms,receive%20any%20support%20or%20treatment.