The US is in crisis with a dramatic increase in minority maternal death rates as outlined by March of Dimes’s annual reports, by Chloe Schwartz. Massachusetts is rated “best” in the country despite the fact that we have 2-3 minority maternal deaths to every caucasian maternal death.

In Massachusetts, our death rate for minority infants is 4-6 deaths to every caucasian infant death. This critical death rate report actually moved the Massachusetts legislature to finally take action on maternal child legislation and funding. We can thank Massachusetts’ Senator Liz Miranda’s advocacy for this advance. We hope to move more progress on maternal child legislation and services in Massachusetts.

Needless to say, the rest of the country’s maternal and child death rates are much worse! So Massachusetts is developing model programs with the Boston Public Health Commission. Becky Cruz-Crosson will describe the new programs covering Doula access for all pregnant people and universal access to culturally and linguistically pre and post-natal home visits.

Register to attend.

We will hear from 3 expert speakers:

• Chloe Schwartz (March of Dimes, Massachusetts Director of Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives).   A lifelong Massachusetts resident, she has a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Boston University and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from Tufts University School of Medicine. She developed a strategy as to how birthing hospitals in New York City could better communicate patients’ rights before and during childbirth. Prior to graduate school, Chloe worked in Public Relations at two Boston-based creative agencies.  She serves on the Steering Committees for the Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition, Massachusetts Families for Vaccines and the Worcester Healthy Baby Collaborative.
• Senator Liz Miranda (Senator, 2nd Suffolk district).  Prior to serving in the Massachusetts Senate, Senator Miranda served two terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.  Prior to serving in the Massachusetts Legislature, Senator Miranda was a non-profit executive, entrepreneur, and community organizer.  She is a Wellesley College alumna and proud graduate of the John D O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science.
• Becky Cruz-Crosson (Boston Public Health Commission) is a mental health counselor with more than 15-years of experience serving children and families. She is the Division Director of BPHC’s Healthy Start Systems, an initiative that promotes the health and wellbeing of women, children, and families in Boston that are affected by infant mortality and health inequities. She oversees a staff of more than 40 employees including public health nurses, social workers, and public health advocates who provide a range of resources and social services. She received her BA from Gordon College and her MA from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.