Black Maternal Health Week April 11th to 17th

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins will mark Black Maternal Health Week with the launch of a new maternal health dashboard on the County Health Department website, that offers a deep dive into data about maternal health and births in Westchester.

Jenkins said, “This dashboard will help us track our progress as we work to improve Black maternal and child health outcomes and reduce racial healthcare inequities. This powerful tool can assist policy makers, advocates, grant funders and program managers by informing their decisions with granular information about the root causes of birth outcomes, and can also point the way toward solutions.”

The County launched the Black Maternal Child Health Initiative in 2023 to address the increased risks that Black women face during pregnancy and childbirth. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2021, Black women were 2.6 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. Researchers have found that Black women are also more likely to experience serious pregnancy complications, such as asthma, hypertension and gestational diabetes. Funded with $2 million through the County Health Department, the initiative is a partnership with Sister to Sister International, Birth from the Earth, the Children’s Health Research Foundation/Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network, and St. John’s Riverside Hospital.

Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler said, “The programs funded by this initiative can lift up Westchester women and families. Through a combination of provider training to increase patient participation in medical decision-making and improve the birth experience, along with an increase in home visits, prenatal and birthing consultations, health screenings, support groups for mothers and new fathers and referrals to other resources, these programs help families develop a solid foundation that can give each child a healthy start in life.”

Founder of Sister to Sister International and the Westchester Black Maternal and Child Center of Excellence Dr. Cheryl Brannan said, “Sister to Sister International (STSI) applauds County Executive Jenkins, Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Amler and their teams for their commitment to birth equity in Westchester County.”