April 2024 Update

For Nurture KC, the best way to commemorate Black Maternal Health Week is through action. To that end, we sponsored the Kansas Birth Equity Network’s "Centering Black Mental Health," a resource event and educational session at Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Technical Education Center which took place April 13. This event combines two key strategies in halting and reversing the disparate maternal outcomes for Black mothers; applying a holistic approach that encompasses mental health needs and providing a direct line from families to organizations providing resources and assistance in alleviating these needs. As we continue to fight stubbornly high rates of Black maternal mortality in both states, it is important to remember community efforts have the power to directly and dramatically reverse this trend.

In addition to local efforts, there is investment at the national and state levels to improve the health of Black moms. Kansas has secured a $2.4 million maternal health innovation grant with the help of Congresswoman Sharice Davids. Some of the funding priorities include addressing maternal mental health through screening, maternal health workforce expansion and training and treatment of severe mental illness. In Missouri Governor Parson committed to a $4.3 million investment in maternal health that addresses many of the same priorities. Missouri has also launched its Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies outreach campaign designed to connect mom to services and resources.

On the policy front, both Missouri and Kansas are working to include doula services as a Medicaid benefit. MO HealthNet is covering group prenatal care as an evidence-based strategy in improving maternal health. These strategies and innovative approaches should move both states forward, giving us hope that future Black Maternal Health Weeks will show progress instead of unacceptable mortality statistics.

Tracy Russell

Executive Director, Nurture KC

Mental Health Takes Center Stage

Kansas Birth Equity Network’s "Centering Black Mental Health" event during Black Maternal Health Week brought together families, community members and advocates to discuss the barriers that Black women face before, during and after pregnancy that result in dramatically higher rates of morbidity and mortality for Black moms.

A panel discussion highlighting strategies to reduce these disparities in Kansas City included Nurture KC’s Community Health Worker, Marchai Hudson (pictured second to left below). Marchai spoke about the importance of treating each mom as a unique individual requiring a tailored set of resources in an approach that makes her comfortable. Marchai emphasized the relationships that community health workers develop with the families they serve and how important that connection is in providing the best support.

Spanish-speaking Women's Health Event Coming Soon

The next event Nurture KC is helping to sponsor is "Entre Mujeres: The Health of Women" on April 28 from noon to 4 p.m. at Memorial Hall. It will educate women on preventive health measures for themselves and their children, including prenatal care, maternal and infant health, and health screenings. Learn how to help prevent infant mortality and how to protect against breast and cervical cancers with the HPV vaccine. There is also a motivational speaker.

Register at: immunizekansascoalition.org/entre-mujeres.asp

This is the first all-Spanish conference series in Kansas. However, interpretation will be available in English to make it inclusive for all women. Tickets are $10, which includes lunch. Connect with women across Kansas City and meet exhibitors from non-profits, like Nurture KC.

Let's Chat: Why Immunization Matters

Many of the families we serve through our Healthy Start Program are Hispanic. Recently one of our Community Health Workers, Maricela Hudson (pictured at right below) spoke with El Centro on the importance of vaccination. You can catch the conversation (in Spanish) below. Please share with your networks as well.

Sharing Our Community Health Worker Model

When non-profits support one another and forge partnerships with others in the same sectors, everyone wins - the partnering non-profits and our community. Nurture KC is proud to partner with Children's Services Fund of Jackson County on programs like Moving Beyond Depression and Promise 1000. Learn how in this article, "Comprehensive Community Health Models at the Heart of Nurture KC's Programs," that they recently posted. This holistic approach is invaluable in shaping healthy futures for children.

Membership News

Thank you to our renewing member, Dr. Danielle Chiang

Organizational membership renewals:

University of Kansas Health System, Benefactor Level