These resources are in no way all-encompassing. This list serves as a starting point for learning more about how systemic racism is driving the Black maternal health crisis and ways tin our communities and the United States.
Mental Health
Roots of Labor Birth Collective BIPOC Doula Circle
Join us on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month as we come together for Doula Circle. All BIPOC birthworkers welcome! We’ll be holding space for each other as we connect, process and network. Whatever experience level you’re at, this is a great place to connect with other birthworkers! It is so good to see each other and know we are not alone in this work. We meet on zoom from 6pm – 8pm PST.
Join Us HERE
A Doula’s Guide to Managing Your Own Self-Care by Alexis Wolford
Lifestyle, Mamahood, Self Care, Wellness
What do moms, doulas, teachers, caregivers, coaches, and so many others all have in common? They give A LOT of themselves to others! Learn more about the journey towards nourishing yourself!
How to Practice Self and Community Care as a Birthworker by Courtney Harris
Birthwork is physical, emotional, mental, and some would even say spiritual. After supporting someone through a reproductive experience– birth, abortion, miscarriage, or adoption, for example– you will probably feel, experience, and process A LOT.
Learn more on how to find support after supporting someone through a reproductive experience.
Reads
“Why America’s Black Mothers and Babies Are In a Life or Death Crisis”
The answer to the disparity in death rates has everything to do with the lived experience of being a black woman in America. Read More Here
*subscription required
America is Failing Black Moms
To Prevent Women from Dying in Childbirth, First Stop Blaming Them
Two thirds of all U.S. maternal deaths are considered preventable. Racism—not race—is a critical factor. Read Full Article Here
Toolkit
California Black Women’s Health Project Steps to Success: A Business Toolkit for Black Birthworkers
This business toolkit is designed to empower Black birthworkers, Midwives, Doulas, Community Health Workers, Maternal Mental Health Peer Specialists, Lactation Consultants, Birth Educators, Breastfeeding Counselors, Advocates, and Activists in the maternal/reproductive justice industry. You will find guidance, advice and tangible resources to help you monetize and operationalize your business. By the time you complete this business toolkit, you will have a basic framework that covers all aspects of your business – from marketing and finance to operations and legal.
Read the toolkit HERE
Race Equity 101 toolkit
Expecting Justice designed the Race Equity 101 Toolkit to be used as a menu of tools to integrate racial equity into your existing practices. The tools in this document are organized by Government Alliance on Race and Equity’s “Normalize, Organize, Operationalize” framework from GARE and Race Forward’s” Actions to Advance racial Equity”. We recognize that change can take time, and often needs to be incremental. We also recognize that we need to operate with a sense of urgency and start somewhere. Each tool in this document can be applied to ongoing work in government agencies; we all need to self-reflect, cultivate our workforce, develop communication skills, improve quality of services, and hire or engage with HR. if we cannot apply a racial equity lens in these everyday activities, when do we start prioritizing racial equity?
This work starts here, and it starts now!