This page includes a curated list of local resources, support services, and organizations dedicated to improving Black maternal health and supporting individuals and families in our community.

Local Resources

• Black Infant Health - San Mateo County - The purpose of the Black Infant Health Programs (BIH) is to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates and improve birth outcomes in the African-American community. Our goals also include increasing early prenatal care and connecting families to resources, parenting support, mental health and wellness services and breast feeding education.

Regional Resources 

• Perinatal Equity Initiative (PEI) - Santa Clara County - The County of Santa Clara Perinatal Equity Initiative is a state-funded program that aims to address the root causes of the persistent, inequitable birth outcomes and health disparities of Black mothers and their babies. PEI provides pre-conception, inter-conception, and personal support services. Our program collaborates with hospital and community partners to develop and implement policy and system change strategies in perinatal care settings. Working at the systemic level is the best way to reduce the impact of implicit bias and discrimination on the quality of care and birth outcomes for African/African Ancestry women.

• Black Infant Health BIH - Santa Clara County - The County of Santa Clara Black Infant Health (BIH) Program empowers pregnant and parenting African and African American mothers by connecting them with the care they need for good health during pregnancy and beyond. Our program helps participants reduce stress, eat well, and connect with others for support. BIH is a state-wide program that has served Santa Clara County since 1991.

• Black Infant Health - Anti-Black Racism, as well as social and economic stressors, play a major role in poor birth outcomes—babies born too early and too small—for Black women. Within a culturally supportive environment, and honoring the unique history of Black women, California Black Infant Health (BIH) aims to help women have healthy babies.

• Improving Black Maternal Health through Person Centered Care - UCSF - Fact Sheet

State Resources 

• Black Infant Health - Black Infant Health (BIH) is a health equity program that offers individual and support to pregnant and post-partum Black mothers and birthing people. BIH was created in recognition that anti-Black racism, social and economic stressors, and neighborhood conditions contribute to poor birth outcomes for Black mothers, birthing people, and infants. In California, and across the United States, Black mothers and birthing people experience some of the highest rates of life-threatening childbirth complications, deaths from pregnancy-related causes, and babies born too early or too small. The BIH program structure and strategies help participants enhance life skills within a culturally affirming and supportive environment that honors the unique history of Black women and birthing people, reduces stress, and build social support. BIH seeks to impact not only participants themselves, but future generations of Black women, infants, and families.
  • Advancing Black Birth Equity Together - Fact Sheet
• State of the Black Birth Justice - The California Coalition for Black Birth Justice (the Coalition) was launched in January 2022 by Black women leaders from birth equity initiatives in Northern and Southern California to unify and strengthen the Black birth justice movement across the state. The Coalition came together in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and on the heels of the national "racial reckoning". While California leads the nation in its investment and commitment to birth equity and justice, there was no unified vision or strategy to make this a reality. As Black women with roots across the diaspora and deep expertise in policy, community organizing, clinical care, and more, we came together to help meet a critical need. To our knowledge, the Coalition is the first entity that aims to create statewide collaboration and coordination among Black birth equity and justice efforts. 
• Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program - Are you pregnant, have kids under 5? Then, WIC may be for you! WIC can be of support during difficult times.  We offer, nutrition information, breastfeeding support and education, link you to other services AND, offer healthy foods for you and your family every month! 

Federal Resources

• The Momnibus Act - The Momnibus is designed to end preventable maternal death in America by ending maternal health disparities, growing and diversifying the perinatal health workforce, expanding access to maternal mental health and substance use care, lowering health care costs, investing in technological solutions, closing research gaps, improving data collection, and providing direct federal funding for local community-based organizations that improve maternal health outcomes. 
  • One - Pager

National Resources 

• Black Bill of Rights - The Black Birthing Bill of Rights is a resource for every Black person that engages in maternity and perinatal care. We want each Black woman and birthing person to know their rights and to have the tools to confidently exercise these rights. The Bill of Rights also serves as guidance for government programs, hospitals, maternity providers and others as they transform their policies, procedures, and practices to meet the needs of Black birthing people.
• Black Mamas Matter Alliance - The Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance that centers Black mamas and birthing people to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.
• Black Women's Health Imperative - BWHI brings the challenges and disparities affecting Black women and girls to the forefront of national conversation, integrating science, advocacy, and action to eliminate barriers to wellness.