Item Description:
title
Establish Birth Justice Community Advisory Board - Offered by Commissioner Lunde
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WHEREAS:
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WHEREAS, the creation of a Birth Justice Community Advisory Board is necessary to further advance the work currently spearheaded by the Birth Justice Collaborative (BJC), and to establish a formal mechanism for stakeholders to provide input and recommendations on maternal health equity matters affecting the county. The advisory board will provide a platform for diverse perspectives and expertise to be heard and considered in policy decision-making processes. The BJC will continue to convene and coordinate community, systems, and professional birth and cultural workers to implement and evaluate the birth justice strategic plan created and initiated in 2023.
WHEREAS Minnesota experiences some of the worst disparities associated with maternal mortality rates, with Black and American Indian people experiencing the highest birth deaths and complications. Black women are 2.3 times more likely to die of pregnancy- or childbirth related causes than their white counterparts, and the American Indian maternal mortality rate is about four times higher. The purpose of this amendment would be to formalize a diverse community advisory board comprised of professional, cultural, and community-based care providers that have direct experience supporting birthing people throughout the various hospitals, birth centers, clinics, and community settings in Hennepin County. They would be tasked with identifying and implementing priority strategies for advancing maternal health and provide recommendations on how to better birth outcomes and experiences for Black and American Indian birthing people.
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners hereby establishes the Birth Justice Community Advisory Board to provide advice and recommendations to the board on maternal health equity matters affecting the county; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Board designate the Birth Justice Collaborative (BJC) as the official local, community led coalition of maternal health and birth justice champions in Hennepin County advising the board, departments, and agencies on maternal health policies, programs, and initiatives; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Public Health Department be authorized to provide staff support and consultation to the community advisory board and sustain the community governance model and partnership with Hennepin County Public Health to fulfill the Public Health Foundational Responsibility for Maternal Health through effective community partnership development, cross-sector dialogue, and ongoing learning and innovation. The Public Health department also be tasked with:
• Appointments of members to the community advisory board, including representatives from various stakeholder groups, including professional birthing providers and community-based birth and cultural providers.
• Authorization for the advisory board to meet regularly and provide recommendations to the Board on maternal health equity data, issues, and policies throughout the county.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the advisory board shall have a broad mandate to provide advice and recommendations on maternal health equity matters affecting the county, including:
• Identify and uplift priority strategies for advancing maternal health.
• Implement and test collaborative strategies for improved outcomes, experiences, and systems change.
• Collectively review and share data and stories across sectors and culture to advance, expand and replicate the work.
• Advocate for and advance culturally centered models of care as it pertains to birthing and postpartum care.
• Report out progress and outcomes for pilot programs and initiatives within the Black and American Indian communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the community advisory board shall work closely with county departments and agencies to provide input and recommendations on maternal health equity policies and initiatives.
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Background:
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: No Recommendation