From advocacy toolkits and informative reads to recent opinion pieces and material about black maternal health and infant mortality rates, this section of our website provides resources for you to educate yourself and your community to help spread awareness and take action to advance birth justice.
Reads
Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A Primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change
Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A Primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change is an anthology of primers. It was developed by the Sistersong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective and the Pro-Choice Public Education Project in collaboration with many others for the 2007 United States Social Forum.
Read More HERE
Racism As A Root Cause Approach by, Zea Malawa, MD; Jenna Gaarde, MPH; Solaire Spellen, MPH
The field of public health has identified racial health disparities as a chief concern for decades. Although there has been a myriad of published articles in which researchers describe the severity and complexity of these disparities, they persist into present day relatively unchanged. We believe this lack of progress can be explained, in part, by a failure to acknowledge that racism is at the root of these racial disparities. Many children’s health advocates believe more should be done to address our country’s systemic racial inequities, but few of us feel able to create meaningful change, and even fewer feel that it is our responsibility. As a result, many opt to pursue programmatic fixes and Band-Aid solutions over addressing the underlying systemic, interpersonal, and historical racism. We hope to empower children’s health advocates by introducing a solutions-centered framework for addressing racism as a root cause. This approach can help guide and structure the important work of dismantling racism so Black, Indigenous, and other racially marginalized families can finally have an equal opportunity for good health.
Read HERE
Toolkits
Black Mamas Matter Policy Toolkit
The Black Mamas Matter toolkit is a resource for advocates who are concerned about the health and well-being of black women and girls. It takes a human rights based approach to maternal health, identifying the rights of pregnant and birthing parents and the corresponding role of government to ensure safe and respectful maternal health care for all. First released in June 2016, the toolkit was produced by the Center for Reproductive Rights in partnership with members of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance.
Learn More HERE
Queering Reproductive Justice: Mini Toolkit
This toolkit is an updated mini version of the Task Force’s larger Queering Reproductive Justice Toolkit. This toolkit is intended specifically for reproductive health, rights, and justice advocates who want to gain and further their understanding of repro* issues within an LGBTQ context.
Learn More HERE
AMCHP Maternal Health Bill Tracker
Learn more about pending federal legislation to improve maternal health.