For health equity advocates across the D.C. area and nation, commemorating the 10th anniversary of Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17) is about more than celebration. It’s about saving lives.
Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth than their white counterparts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and District data shows that 90% of pregnancy-related deaths occur among Black residents, with the highest risk concentrated in Wards 7 and 8.
Disparities facing Black women and firsthand experience drive Jaren Hill Lockridge, chair of the Ward 8 Health Council, to fight against inequities.
“It is my duty to do all that I can to support birthing people in my community and giving them the resources I wish I had bringing my daughters earth side,” Hill Lockridge told The Washington Informer on WIN-TV’s “Let’s Talk.”
Through programming, partnerships and community engagement, Ward 8 Health Council is dedicated to raising awareness not just during Black Maternal Health Week, but increasing access to care in order to strengthen District residents year round.
“We have the statistics to support the maternal labor and delivery moment. But it’s actually a larger crisis about Black women’s health,” Hill Lockridge explained. “This is not isolated to a woman’s ability to reproduce… This is across the board, and this is really just being able to shine a light on the Black women’s health crisis of: Believe Black women when we say we’re in pain or whatever’s going on.”
The Ward 8 based care program is one of the many organizations across the DMV combating maternal health inequities.
In January, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and the Greater Washington Community Foundation (GWCF) awarded $2.2 million in grants to 11 local nonprofits dedicated to improving maternal health throughout the DMV, including Community of Hope and Voices for Virginia’s Children.
“We simply cannot share our impactful programs without the generosity of so many,” said Leah Garrett, vice president of development and communications at Community of Hope.
Allison Gilbreath, senior policy and programs director at Voices for Virginia’s Children, said the funding is “affirming and motivating,”
“It reflects a shared urgency to improve outcomes for birthing people, infants, and families,” she said in a statement sent to The Informer. For us, this is not just an investment in our organization—it’s an investment in the belief that our systems can and must work better for families, especially during pregnancy and the early years.”
As Black Maternal Health Week winds down, local organizations are committed to continuing their goals of strengthening communities beyond the annual celebration, through raising awareness, programming and partnership to continue equity and justice work.
“When policy, practice, and community voice are aligned,” Gillbreath said, “we can build a system where every birthing person has the support they need.”
Highlighting the Importance of Doulas
At the Ward 8 Health Council, Hill Lockridge said that the Maternal Health Working Group, co-chaired by Crystal Jackson, is emphasizing the importance of doulas.
“Who is really listening to and understanding and advocating for the mother and the birthing person? And that’s the role of the doula,” Hill Lockridge explained. “[The doula says]: ‘She’s cold. Let’s get her a blanket. She doesn’t want an epidural. She’s hungry, she’s in pain.’[ A doula] is really there to be an advocate, a cheerleader and supporter for the birthing person.”
The National Library of Medicine found that doula-assisted births are linked to lower rates of complications, fewer cesarean sections and overall improved maternal outcomes— particularly for Black birthing people who face higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth.
In the District, if birthing people qualify for Medicaid, they also qualify for doula support.
“We recognize that doula support is statistically proven to improve birthing and maternal health rates,” Hill Lockridge told The Informer.
The council’s Doula Learning Action and Collaborative aims to make doulas more accessible for those who need them, alongside clearer outreach explaining how to obtain one.
Further, the Ward 8 group announced a partnership with A Queen Mama Doula Services, Children’s National Medical Center and Wellpoint DC, to embed doulas at Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center. The effort would place doulas on staff, working alongside nurses, midwives and OBGYNs, while also expanding postpartum support for birthing people.
“We’re really trying to do differently to really create a continuum of care from labor and delivery to that first pediatric appointment to really connect the dots in an amazing, beautiful way,” the Ward 8 Health Council chair said.
Confronting ‘Stark Disparities in Outcomes’
Since its founding in 1994, Voices for Virginia’s Children, a statewide policy and advocacy organization, has been focused on improving the well-being of children and families through research, data and legislative action.
With the support from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and GWCF, Voices for Virginia’s Children hopes to deepen their work, particularly using data to better understand disparities — especially the disproportionate adverse outcomes experienced by Black birthing people.
“Lowering maternal mortality requires a comprehensive, systems-level approach grounded in data and equity,” Gilbreath explained. “We must ensure that birthing people have timely access to high-quality, culturally responsive care across the entire perinatal period, including strong behavioral health supports.”
Further, the organization plans to use the recent grant funding to advance maternal and infant behavioral health policy, focusing on long-term systems change. That includes strengthening Maternal Health Hubs, supporting implementation of the Statewide Maternal Health Task Force and integrating behavioral health into perinatal care.
“We will advocate to expand infant mental health screening, elevate parent voice through community advisory structures and advance policy solutions such as improved Medicaid reimbursement and expanded access to care—particularly in underserved and rural communities,” Gillbreath said.
The policy and programs director emphasized that lowering maternal mortality requires more than individual programs— it demands structural change.
“We must also confront the stark disparities in outcomes, particularly for Black birthing people, by using data to drive accountability and change,” she said. “Just as importantly, we must listen to and center the experiences of birthing people most impacted.”
‘Caring for Babies and Their Parents is Community Work’
Through its comprehensive model of care, Community of Hope serves more than 600 pregnant women each year — many of whom are Black mothers on Medicaid.
Founded in 1980, Community of Hope is a D.C.-based nonprofit providing care, housing and family support services, with a strong focus on maternal and child health. Through initiatives like prenatal care, childbirth education, home visiting and behavioral health support, the organization works to address both medical and social needs — a model they credit for improved outcomes, according to their 2024 Maternal Child Health Impact Report.
The impact, Garrett said, is already visible.
“The babies and mommas in our community have better health outcomes than their peers across D.C.,” she said in a statement submitted to The Informer. “These families are off to a healthier start.”
Garrett emphasized that community involvement remains key to sustaining that success — encouraging residents to connect pregnant women to care, donate essential supplies like diapers and clothing, and support fundraising efforts that directly sustain services.
“Caring for babies and their parents is community work,” she told The Informer. “Something that anyone can do — babies require a lot of supplies, equipment and clothes. We accept donations of diapers, wipes, blankets, clothes — even clean and gently used items that your baby has already outgrown are so welcome.”
As organizations such as Community of Hope, Voices for Virginia’s Children and Ward 8 Health Council work to combat maternal health outcomes, they are also emphasizing the importance of collaboration in achieving their overall goals.
“We’re all really trying to co-create solutions to drive systems change, particularly for our mothers and birthing people who need it the most,” Hill Lockridge told The Informer.
