The Health Foundation of South Florida, a leading philanthropic organization dedicated to achieving health equity in underserved communities, has announced funding of over $2 million for three initiatives aimed at improving Black maternal and infant health and reducing violence in South Florida. These grants were unveiled during the second annual Black Health Summit, which brought together healthcare, education, philanthropy, and community leaders to discuss the health disparities faced by Black residents in the region.
The initiatives are as follows:
- Enhancing Doula Services in Miami-Dade: A collaborative effort involving Jackson Health System, Southern Birth Justice Network, Metro Mommy Agency, Magnolia Birth House, and YWCA South Florida will receive more than $930,000 to integrate community-based doulas into the pre-natal, birthing, and postpartum process. This initiative aims to reduce Black maternal and infant mortality and morbidity by training healthcare providers, establishing a coordinated doula referral process, modifying policies to support doula services, and offering assistance and training to local doulas and midwives.
- Establishing an OB/GYN Clinic in Broward: A collaboration between Community Care Plan, Broward Health, Urban League of Broward County, and the Broward County Healthy Start Coalition will receive $850,000 to open an OB/GYN clinic in maternity care deserts within zip codes 33311 and 33313. The clinic will provide comprehensive care staffed with OB/GYNs, doulas, and midwives, and will address patients’ health-related social needs. Technological solutions will be implemented to monitor patients and facilitate referrals for social services, aiming to improve health outcomes for Black mothers and babies.
- Implementing Community-Based Violence Prevention: The Circle of Brotherhood (COB), a nonprofit organization primarily comprising Black men committed to reducing crime and violence, will receive $290,000 for its Peacemakers program. Peacemakers, non-traditional community-based workers, will focus on strengthening community relationships and connecting residents of Liberty City and Overtown to vital services such as employment training, housing, food, and healthcare. The program aims to reduce violence and address the social drivers of health in these communities.
Loreen Chant, President and CEO of the Health Foundation, expressed the organization’s commitment to collaborating with community partners to address health inequities faced by South Florida’s Black communities. The initiatives reflect the outcomes of the previous year’s Black Health Summit, which aimed to inspire collaborations and solutions for health disparities in the Black community.
The Health Foundation’s investments aim to improve access to quality healthcare, promote the well-being of Black mothers and infants, and create safer and healthier communities.
