Join NICHQ in Honoring Black History Month 2023

In celebration of this year's official theme Black History Month theme, Black Resistance, we join in uplifting and building on the incredible work of Black medical professionals who worked with others to establish nursing schools, hospitals, and clinics in order to provide spaces for Black people to get quality health care.

This month, join NICHQ in shining a light on medical racism and its historical impact on the Black community.  

Doctors with masks on lined up in single file line

Resources for Health Professionals 

The health and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, young adults, and their families are negatively impacted by racism embedded within structures, institutions, relationships, and environments. Read more from the American Academy of Pediatrics about Why Conversations About Race Matter, and the effects of conversation on patient care. 

Clinical care providers, public health professionals, educators, and community advocates can view the below resources to learn how to better support Black mothers, birthing people, and families as they navigate unique challenges in the health care system.  

RESOURCE  SUMMARY TOPIC

RECORDING | ROOT Learning Academy Session 5

 This course examines how policy development and institutional systems have created health inequities that oppress Black families in the maternal & infant health space and beyond.   Racial Equity

RECORDING | The Impact of Infant Loss and Recognizing the Uniqueness of Black Grief Inservice 

 The Healthy Start TA & Support Center (TASC) recently held a 90-minute training on understanding infant loss and Black grief. Throughout the training, participants learned about African Americans’ historical and contemporary experiences with death, including the impact of systemic racism on individuals’ reactions to loss.  Grief Support

INSIGHT | Breastfeeding Takes a Village, and Too Often Black Women Don’t Have One 

 Black women and birthing people in the U.S. have the lowest rates of breastfeedinghttps://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6834a3.htm initiation and continuation compared with other racial and ethnic groups. As a result, Black women and children disproportionately miss out on vital breastfeeding benefits, including lower rates of diabetes and certain cancers for mothers and reduced risks of asthma, obesity, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) for babies.  Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding

INSIGHT | Applying Equity Lens to Safe Sleep and Breastfeeding Efforts

 Three experts share their recommendations for elevating Black mothers and families as leaders in driving change in breastfeeding and infant safe sleep outcomes.  Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding 

RECORDING | HS TASC Equity Table – Fatherhood in the Age of Mass Incarceration

NICHQ's Healthy Start Technical Assistance and Support Center (HS TASC) recently facilitated a conversation about fatherhood in the age of mass incarceration during a recent Equity Table, part of a series of roundtable conversations that explore the racism and inequities communities of color face in the United States, today and historically. 

 Fatherhood

INSIGHT |  How Do We Adress Safe Sleep Disparities? Start by Building Trust

 Learn strategies for building community trust and addressing safe sleep disparities from safe sleep expert Dr. Stacy Scott, NICHQ VP of Health Equity Innovation.   Safe Sleep

TOOLKIT | NYS Obstetric Hemorrhage Toolkit

 The goal of the NYS Obstetric Hemorrhage Project was to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality statewide by translating evidence-based guidelines into clinical practice to improve the assessment for and management of obstetric hemorrhage.  Hemorrhage

COMPENDIUM | 2017-2021 SCDTDRCP Compendium of Tools and Resources

 This participant-sourced compendium identifies promising practices and strategies leveraged in the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Program (SCDTDP) to implement changes in their health systems related to improving access to care, increasing use of hydroxyurea, and enhancing provider education. Sickle Cell Disease
Black family cuddling with baby wearing white furry coat, man wearing read shirt kissing baby and woman wearing black coat holding baby

A helpful collection of resources for families and caregivers. 

Resources for Families

INFOGRAPHIC | Missed Sickle Cell Disease Appointments 

Most adults and children living with sickle cell disease (SCD) missed at least one clinic appointment in a year, according to a study by an Atlanta regional SCD center. This infographic suggests some steps to find solutions and help make getting to appointments easier. 

DOWNLOAD INFOGRAPHIC

GUIDE | Safe Infant Sleep Baby Registry Guide 

This helpful guide will support families in ensuring baby registries meet safe sleep recommendations and guidelines. 

VIEW GUIDE

PARTNER RESOURCE | AAP Releases Updated Gun Violence Prevention Recommendations 

Gun violence is the No. 1 killer of children, teens and young people through age 24. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calls for tackling this public health emergency with a harm-reduction approach, using tactics that have successfully resulted in a decrease in motor vehicle-related injuries and deaths.

READ RECOMMENDATIONS

Black person with shoulder length curly hair wearing scrubs using a laptop

NICHQ WEBINARS 

Watch informative webinars on demand to gain a historical perspective about some of the challenges Black children, mothers, birthing people, and families experience within the healthcare system.  

WEBINAR | From Awareness to Action: Strategies for Combating Racism in Health Systems 

Learn strategies to identify and address racism and racial bias and apply a racial equity lens to collective impact-based health improvement initiatives. 

WATCH RECORDING

WEBINAR | Conversations to Improve Patient/Provider Relationships and Increase Appointment Attendance 

In this interactive session, panelists model conversations among providers, families, and advocates about reasons for and solutions to missed SCD healthcare appointments. This webinar features discussion and conversation guides that are now available for providers and community-based organizations that specialize in sickle cell disease care.  

WATCH RECORDING