New York State Department of Health Recognizes Black Maternal Health Week

Black Women and Black People Who Give Birth Are Five Times More Likely to Die from Pregnancy-Related Causes Than White People Who Give Birth

Department Highlights Several Programs Aimed at Eliminating Systemic Inequities that Impact Maternal Mortality

"Our Bodies STILL Belong to Us: Reproductive Justice NOW!" Marks This Year's Theme

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 11, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes Black Maternal Health Week, celebrated April 11-17, by reaffirming its commitment to eliminating systemic inequities and creating safer birth experiences for all New Yorkers. "Our Bodies STILL Belong to Us: Reproductive Justice NOW!" marks this year's theme.

With studies showing that Black women and people who give birth are five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White people who give birth in New York State, the Department has engaged in a multifaceted effort to eliminate inequities and improve outreach during pregnancy.

"The number of Black people who die of pregnancy-related causes is unacceptable and indicative of long-standing health disparities resulting from inequitable care and systemic racism," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "The Department with unwavering support of Governor Hochul will continue to address how maternal mortality affects the Black community and fight to eliminate disparities so that all people who give birth have birthing experiences that are safe and empowering."

"Black Maternal Health Week is a time to raise awareness about how maternal mortality affects the Black community and continue stepping into action," State Department of Health Medical Director for the Division of Family Health Dr. Marilyn Kacica said. "We remain committed to addressing this critical issue and advocating so that all people who give birth remain safe, have a voice, and get a fair chance for their families to grow and thrive."

"Black Maternal Health Week is a reminder that we must continue to focus on eliminating disparities in health care that impact Black people who give birth," State Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advisory Council Chair Cheryl Hunter-Grant said. "No one should die from a preventable pregnancy-related complication. The State Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advisory Council remains committed to advocating, working, and having tough conversations so birthing experiences become safer for everyone."

Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law creating a state doula directory and allocated $4.5 million to support the state's Regional Perinatal Centers, which provide high-level perinatal and infant care throughout the state. Doula services are fully covered by Medicaid as of January 1, 2024.

In collaboration with partners, the State Health Department is involved in a statewide effort to reduce the instances of maternal mortality and eliminate health disparities, while implementing several initiatives to reduce pregnancy-related deaths and improve health outcomes.

Maternal Mortality Review Board (MMRB) was established in 2019 to examine information related to pregnancy-associated deaths and to issue findings and recommendations to advance the prevention of maternal mortality.

Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advisory Council was established in 2019 to review the findings and recommendations of the Maternal Mortality Review Board to identify social determinants and other issues known to impact maternal health outcomes. The MMMAC develops its recommendations on policies, best practices, and strategies to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity.

The New York State Perinatal Quality Collaborative (NYSPQC) was initiated in 2010 and led by the Division of Family Health. The NYSPQC engages a statewide network of birthing hospitals and centers that seek to provide the best, safest, and most equitable care for birthing people and infants in New York State. The NYSPQC has focused on:

  • New York State Birth Equity Improvement Project is a learning collaborative that has engaged New York State birthing hospitals and centers to support the development of anti-racist policies and practices at the facility level and improve the experience of care and obstetric outcomes for Black women/birthing people in New York State.
  • New York State Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy & Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Project aimed to improve the identification and care of people with Opioid Use Disorder during pregnancy, as well as improve the identification, standardization of therapy, and coordination of aftercare of infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
  • New York State Obstetric Hemorrhage Project reduced maternal morbidity and mortality statewide by translating evidence-based guidelines into clinical practice to improve the assessment, identification, and management of obstetric hemorrhage.

The Perinatal Infant and Community Health Collaborative (PICHC) is a community health worker/paraprofessional-based home visiting program. PICHC programs implement strategies to improve the health and well-being of individuals of reproductive age and their families, focused on individuals in the prenatal, postpartum, and interconception periods.

Nurse-Family Partnership and Healthy Families New York programs provide education, screening, and referrals to those who are pregnant or parents of young children.

The New York State Department of Health implements reproductive health programs that provide access to critical reproductive health care services. These programs reflect the Department's commitment to reproductive autonomy, ensuring that people of reproductive age can decide whether to have children, and determine the timing and spacing of pregnancies.

  • The New York State Family Planning Program supports more than 160 clinic sites across the state to provide accessible, confidential family planning services to all, including low-income and uninsured individuals. Family Planning Programs provide low-cost, high-quality services such as pregnancy testing and options counseling, contraceptive methods (birth control), reproductive life planning and counseling, preconception health services, testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, routine screening for breast and cervical cancer, health education, and referrals.
  • The New York State Abortion Access Program (NYSAAP) supports more than 120 clinic sites that provide abortion care and related services. Since 2022, NYSAAP grantees have worked to expand and maintain access to medical and procedural abortion services in New York State, improving access for individuals in communities across the state as well as people who travel from other states where abortion has been severely restricted or banned.

More information on Maternal Mortality can be found here.

New York State Report on Pregnancy-Associated Deaths in 2018-2020 can be found here.

New York State Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Advisory Council Report 2023 can be found here.