A Vision and Voice for Equity – Maternal & Mental Health in the Black Community
Today is the beginning of Black History Month, and L.A. Care Health Plan is going to use the month to focus on two health issues that are of particular concern within the Black community – maternal health and mental health. The CDC reports that between 2014 and 2017, the pregnancy related mortality rate for Black women was more than three times higher than that for White women. The National Institutes of Health reports that Blacks are 20 percent more likely to have serious psychological distress than Whites are, and they are far less likely to get treatment for a mental health issue.
L.A. Care is committed to finding answers on how to improve those numbers. Toward that end, L.A. Care is hosting two informative webinars during Black History Month. The first is focused on maternal health and the Black community, and the second is focused on mental health and the Black community. Both are open to the public.
Dr. James Kyle, L.A. Care’s Medical Director for Quality, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will moderate both webinars. High profile experts on both maternal and mental health will participate in the respective Zoom webinars providing valuable information for all attendees.
Here are the details on each webinar:
A Vision and Voice for Equity – Maternal Health and the Black Community
Thursday, February 4
10:00-11:30 am
Webex Login (English) – 415-655-0002 Access Code: 146 324 1334
Webex Login (Spanish) – 415-655-0002 Access Code: 146 049 2697
Speakers:
- Adjoa Jones, Association Director, Reional Collaboration, Whole Person Care, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
- Mashariki Kudumu, Maternal Infant Health Director for Greater Los Angeles, March of Dimes
- Jessica Wade, Founder and Executive Director, Mighty Little Giants
- Tammy Turner, Perinatal Nurse Manager, Martin Luther King Community Healthcare
A Vision and Voice for Equity – Mental Health and the Black Community
Friday, February 26
10:00-11:30 am
Webex Login (English) - 415- 655-0002 Access Code: 146 793 2469
Webex Login (Spanish) - 415-655-002 Access Code: 146 903 3503
Speakers:
- Shadeiyah Shareefah Edwards, PsyD, Founder, Together Let's Rise
- Rhonda Smith, Executive Director, California Black Health Network
- Donald Grant, PsyD, Mental Health Consultant