HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRO-2025-011-Black Maternal Health Week Proclamation ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING APRIL 11 - 171 2025 ,
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 Blackded 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 data 2 ; 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 112 ; 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
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 ,
Jarri zettaI18edford , C air
Orange County Board of Commissioners
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' 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 . i � orthcaroIina health news , org /2024/04/ 16/reducing - maternal -
death - rates -for- black-women -will -take- concerted -cooperative -
action /# : � : text = ln % 20North % 2OCarolina % 2C % 20the % 20overall , the % 20investigative % 20news
% 20organization % 20M uckRock .
s Standard , V . , McMillian - Bohler , J . , and Devane-Johnson , S . ( 2023 ) . Black and Pregnant in
America : A National Health Care Crisis . https : // ncmedicallournal . 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# : IIII,, : text = 1 % 20in % 205 % 20new % 20moms , receive % 20any % 20support % 20or% 20treatment .