Press Contact: mcsilver.comms@nyu.edu
Government officials were joined by advocates and healthcare professionals to discuss root causes of and solution for the ongoing crisis for birthing people in New York.
New York — Top New York legislators joined leaders in government, academia, health care, and maternal health advocacy at New York University on Thursday to discuss legislative responses in Albany and New York City to the ongoing crisis in Black maternal health, as well as ways for supporters to help advance those priorities.
The event provided attendees with a comprehensive, expert-informed understanding of the underlying issues driving elevated levels of maternal mortality in New York, which disproportionately impact communities of color. Black women in the state are five times more likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts.
Legislators from the New York State Senate and Assembly, New York City Council, as well as leaders and policymakers from the New York City Mayor’s Office and Department of Health, discussed efforts at various levels of government to address those same underlying issues, while providing a roadmap for ways the State legislature, New York City Council, and advocates can work together to move forward shared goals of reducing maternal mortality going forward.
“As a Black mother and grandmother, addressing the alarming racial disparities in maternal mortality is deeply personal to me,” said New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who opened the with comments Thursday. “In New York, the maternal mortality rate for Black mothers is five times higher than that of their white peers, underscoring a crisis that demands urgent action. Under my leadership, the New York Senate has passed crucial legislation to improve maternal health and tackle these disparities. We’ve enhanced access to reproductive healthcare, including Medicaid coverage for doula services, and allocated $5 million for maternal health grants. At a time when reproductive healthcare is under attack throughout the nation, we are committed to continuing the work to improve maternal health outcomes for all pregnant New Yorkers.”
“As we confront the stark disparities in Black maternal health, we must prioritize equitable care and recognize that structural racism isn’t just a challenge — it’s a matter of life or death,” said NYC Chief Equity Officer and Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice Commissioner Sideya Sherman. “Through NYC Her Future, we are proud to launch targeted programs aimed at increasing the number of doula practitioners in our city, ensuring that more families have access to this essential care. Our mission is clear: to advance racial and gender equity and build a future where every parent receives the dignity, care, and support they deserve.”
The event, “Saving Lives, Shaping Policy: A Legislative Breakfast on Black Maternal Health” — hosted by the NYU McSilver Institute of Poverty Policy and Research and moderated by author, journalist, and member of the NYC Commission on Gender Equity, Eboni K. Williams — is the latest in a series of conversations focused on raising awareness and advancing a policy program to tackle the unacceptably high rates of maternal mortality in New York’s communities of color. NYU McSilver partnered with the New York State Office of the Attorney General and others to present “Equity in Every Birth: A Call to Action to Advance Black Maternal Health” during the 53rd Annual Caucus Weekend in Albany in February 2024. In April 2023, NYU McSilver co-sponsored the healthcare professional-led virtual community forum “Centering Voices: The Crisis of Black Maternal Health.”
The NYU McSilver Intitute’s Executive Director Rose Pierre-Louis said, “Far too many families in our communities are living the painful realities that underlie the statistics. The NYU McSilver Institute is honored to be able to bring together so many important decision makers at the state and city level who are committed to making significant, tangible change in the lives of birthing people across the state. McSilver will continue to leverage research as a tool to influence policy that leads to change in the communities we serve, and thank the leaders who are working to do just that in government, advocacy, and academia that joined us today.”
“Saving Lives, Shaping Policy” sought specifically to bring legislators from New York State and City together to discuss their priorities as a way of building momentum around critical policy solutions. Members of the state legislature discussed aspects of what they described as the “maternal health equity agenda” they planned to advance in next year’s legislative session, which includes measures to permit birthing doulas in hospital emergency rooms, increased access to maternal medical procedures such as remote ultrasounds and transvaginal ultrasounds, and maternal depression screenings, among a number of priorities.
New York State Senators Samra G. Brouk and Lea Webb, Assembly Members Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Michaelle C. Solages, New York City Council Member Farah N. Louis, and NYC Her Future Executive Director Nathifa Forde participated in a panel discussion focused on legislative successes and priorities.
“My maternal health equity agenda began with securing statewide Medicaid reimbursement for doula care — and continues with advocating for the governor to sign my bill to make maternal depression screenings more accessible and available for all birthing individuals in New York State,” State Senator Brouk said. “To combat the black maternal mortality crisis, we need to listen to black mothers and prioritize their needs when introducing policies that impact their livelihoods.”
“I would like to thank NYU McSilver for hosting such an important discussion on Black Maternal Health,” said State Senator Webb. “As the Chair of Women’s Issues in the Senate, it is imperative that state and city legislative leaders, and all of our community stakeholders work together to address maternal mortality which disproportionately impacts Black women. It is through conversations like these that we can advance policies to improve maternal health outcomes for women across the state of New York.”
New York State Assemblymember Solages said, “In New York State, we’ve made significant strides in addressing the maternal mortality crisis. Birth should be a time of joy, not concern for health or safety, and by expanding access to doulas and enhancing maternal depression screenings, the legislature is working to close critical gaps in maternal health outcomes. This crisis demands thoughtful and effective policy solutions at both the state and local levels. We must continue this vital work to make New York a safer, healthier place for all mothers and their children. I thank NYU McSilver, my colleagues in government, and the many advocates who are committed to tackling this urgent issue.”
“I thank NYU McSilver for hosting today’s vital Black maternal health event, which convened leaders in government, healthcare, and maternal health advocacy, as we formed a dynamic action plan to make motherhood safer for all. Together, we’re taking tangible steps to address the root causes of this ongoing crisis that’s plaguing our communities, while dismantling the disproportionate disparities that far too many mothers are facing,” New York State Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn said. “We’ve made strides to tackle the maternal healthcare crisis, but the uphill battle to protect Black mothers is far from over. This fight for me continues in Albany, where we must relentlessly press forward to ensure that every New Yorker can experience a safe and healthy motherhood.”
In the City members of the New York City Council likewise identified legislation they are currently prioritizing to address the array of issues facing communities across the city. These include mandating more public disclosure of maternal mortality information from city officials, new procedures for city health officials to work together to address ongoing issues, and new information requirements to provide new parents information on resources, as well as other measures.
“I was honored to speak at the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research panel ‘Saving Lives, Shaping Policy,’ where we discussed critically needed solutions to the ongoing crisis in Black maternal health in New York City. Engaging with fellow legislators, policy advocates, scholars, and healthcare professionals is essential to addressing the maternal mortality disparities that disproportionately affect Black women in our city,” said Council Member Louis, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Women and Gender Equity. “I was proud to highlight the work of my committee to tackle these disparities and demand accountability, ensuring safeguards for our most vulnerable birthing individuals. I applaud Rose Pierre-Louis and the McSilver Institute for their leadership in convening this vital conversation. Together, through these discussions and our collective efforts across industries, we can create a city where maternal health is among the best in the nation. I look forward to continuing our work to ensure that every birthing person in our city and state has access to the care and support they deserve.”
According to the most recent data from the New York State Department of Health, pregnancy-related deaths in Black communities across the state were five-times higher than in the white community. Within New York City, that rate increased to six-times higher, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The New York Times reports that nearly two-dozen women in New York City typically die each year from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth.
Legislators and elected officials in New York State and City have recently taken measures to address the maternal mortality crisis. Last November, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a pair of bills focused on expanding doula care across the state, as well as $4.5 million in additional funding for regional perinatal centers. In New York City, similar expansions in doula access were signed into law by Mayor Eric Adams in 2022. Earlier this month, Council Speaker Adams declared pregnancy-associated deaths a public health crisis, and called on stakeholders to prioritize confronting maternal mortality.
“Black maternal health affects more than just Black women. Black maternal health and mortality affect our communities as a whole,” said NYC Her Future Executive Director Nathifa Forde. “I am honored to participate in this critical event to highlight how this is a community issue, and to discuss potential strategies that reshape policies and practices that protect and empower all those who give life. NYC Her Future is committed to working with healthcare professionals and community leaders to address these disparities head-on. Through programs like Health Career Connect and the Doula Training Program, we are investing in providing professionals the culturally-relevant tools needed to serve families of color with the goal of minimizing the effects of institutionalized inequities within the healthcare system — specifically those systems that impact the birthing process. When we improve Black maternal health outcomes, we strengthen the fabric of our entire community.”
“Saving Lives, Shaping Policy” was made possible through the support of a number of New York groups committed to addressing maternal mortality through concrete policy action. The NYU McSilver Institute was joined by:
- The Links Incorporated New York Chapter
- NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice
- National Action Network
- NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing
- New York Urban League
- One Brooklyn Health
- NYC Commission on Gender Equity
- NYC Her Future
- NYU Silver School of Social Work
- Columbia School of Social Work
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What our co-sponsors are saying about “Saving Lives, Shaping Policy”:
“We have reached a tipping point in the maternal health crisis,” said DeNora Getachew, President of the Greater New York Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. “We are proud to partner with The McSilver Institute and government and community leaders for a timely and much-needed dialogue. Today’s conversation will help shape how our chapter advances programming to improve Black maternal health outcomes in our community.”
“For over three decades, the National Action Network has proudly stood as a vanguard of civil rights, embodying the spirit and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Our tireless advocacy has placed us at the forefront of critical issues that demand immediate attention and action in our communities,” said Dominique Sharpton, National Director of Membership for the National Action Network. “For too long, we’ve faced a staggering crisis: the shocking Black maternal mortality rate. Black women are dying from pregnancy-related complications at three times the rate of white and non-Black women. This isn’t just unacceptable; it’s a national disgrace. Even more alarming is that 80% of these deaths could be prevented. These numbers demand our attention and action. We will not stand by in silence. We must push for real change, advocating for laws that ensure every childbirth is safe and that all women have equal access to quality care. It’s time to raise our voices and demand justice for our mothers, our sisters, and our communities. Over five years ago, we made history by featuring the first maternal health activist ever to speak at the March on Washington. Since then, we’ve expanded our programming and engagement through community gatherings, allowing us to connect with those most affected. We look forward to collaborating with partners and communities to drive real, lasting change in the fight for maternal health equity.”
“The disparities in Black maternal health remain a crisis in New York City/State and nationwide,” said Sascha James-Conterelli, associate professor and director of the midwifery program at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. “It is imperative that we continue to develop actionable steps in legislature, clinical practice, education and communities to eradicate preventable deaths or health complications.”
“The New York Urban League is pleased to join NYU McSilver Institute for this important gathering of government decision-makers and community leaders on an issue of critical concern to the community we serve,” Arva Rice, President and CEO of the New York Urban League said. “It is tragic that in this modern day that Black women giving birth suffer such high rates of mortality and illness. The New York Urban League stands poised to work with the other organizations and groups gathered today to advocate for better policy for the care and safety of mothers throughout our state. We look forward to this important conversation and to the policy and practice that will be implemented as a result of this effort.”
Dr. Sandra Scott, Interim Chief Executive Officer of One Brooklyn Health, said, “At One Brooklyn Health, we are deeply committed to addressing the alarming disparities in maternal health outcomes that disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities. This legislative breakfast marks an important step in bringing together leaders and advocates to develop meaningful solutions. We know that closing these gaps requires collaboration across government, healthcare, and community sectors, and we stand ready to continue this vital work. Every expectant mother deserves quality care, dignity, and a safe delivery experience, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that happens.”
“The statistics relating to Black maternal health, both locally and nationally, are stunning. NYU Silver is proud to co-host this important forum to bring attention to the ongoing crisis in Black maternal health and advance the discussion over policy solutions,” said Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Dean and Paulette Goddard Professor of Social Work at the NYU Silver School of Social Work.
“Columbia School of Social Work is deeply honored to be part of this year’s legislative breakfast on Black Maternal Health. For far too long, Black women have suffered because of inequities within the healthcare system. Social Work is at the forefront of enacting systemic change with the goal of supporting individuals and communities to thrive. We look forward to building on today’s discussion with much-needed, cross-sectoral collaborations between universities, communities, and government,” said Melissa D. Begg, Professor and Dean of the Columbia School of Social Work.
Photos & Media
A selection of photos taken at this event is available to browse or download from this Google Photos gallery. All photos are credited to David Paul/NYU McSilver.