Community Partners

Tulane University Of Louisiana, New Orleans LA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Black mothers are often excluded from the very research designed to improve their health and health outcomes, despite the fact that they carry the worst burden of maternal mortality (MM) and severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in the US and especially the Gulf South. Mistrust rooted in a history of discrimination, experimentation, and stereotyping contributes to the present-day disparities. It is imperative that the proposed program incorporate institutions who are embedded within the priority population as partners with the research and healthcare cores of the Center. This will be accomplished by establishing equitable partnership agreements that counteract the paternalistic framework of traditional research centers. This project’s primary community partner–not only in this Core but across the entire Center and its leadership–is the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC). NBEC is nationally renowned for its unique ability to bridge communication gaps between healthcare systems and Black birthing people via trainings, research, advocacy, and community- centered collaborations. By also working with community-based organizations (CBOs) primarily led by and serving Black women, we will have greater access to the target population, and help build these organizations’ capacity via technical assistance Furthermore, our partnerships with Ochsner Health System and other healthcare partners will aid in translation of findings and sustainability of programming or potential policy changes. The long-term goal of this Core is to reduce disparities in MM and SMM by embedding Community Partners into all facets of the Center’s activities. Crucial to the project’s success is our overall objective to elevate Black voices by incorporating Black-led Community Partners as equal partners in research- and training-based efforts. Our overall hypothesis is that effective maternity care and interventions can be achieved when they are founded on research that is guided and co-led by community organizations who fill the gap in collaboration between health systems and Black communities. To achieve our objective, we will pursue the following Specific Aims: 1) Establish equitable partnerships between the CBO, researchers, and healthcare providers through collaborative research projects and training programs within the Center; 2) Create a research training laboratory where Community Partners and researchers are learning in partnership and synergizing their knowledge and experience, assets, and networks to achieve the overall objective; 3) Facilitate the translation and dissemination of efficacious prevention, treatment, and policy focused on reducing racial inequities in MM and SMM and the root causes of these disparities. Positioning NBEC as the primary Community Partner and equal collaborator will not only significantly improve the project’s design, implementation, and dissemination efforts but will also forge strong and lasting relationships with the target population that will ultimately result in better healthcare outcomes. Prioritizing capacity building efforts with our Community Partners will generate sustainable and system-level changes throughout the Gulf South.