South LA South Bay AAIMM CAT Bi-Monthly Regional Meeting

You’ re cordially invited to attend our hybrid bi-monthly regional meeting! Our topic of discussion for this month will be on voter education and its impact on reproductive justice. Additionally, we will have a focus group hosted by the pregnancy-associated mortality review (PAMR), workgroup updates, community resource sharing, and how you could become a part of the AAIMM Village.

In-Person Registration:

https://tinyurl.com/SLASBSept24

Virtual Registration:

https://tinyurl.com/SLASBVSept24

“There are a million different ways to support our partners as they grow life inside of them; nine months wasn't enough time to try them all, but I learned that supportive care can and should extend into postpartum and beyond—it's become a lifestyle.”

Reclaiming our narrative and centering our stories for breastfeeding justice.

It is Black Breast/Chestfeeding Week in Los Angeles County and nationwide, and we are honoring the voices and journeys of cherished Black birthing families. The founders of Black Breastfeeding Week have named the theme for this week: “Listen Up! Reclaiming Our Narrative & Centering Our Stories for Breastfeeding Justice  ”.

“Everybody needs a moment. Everybody needs a break. Everybody needs some time for themselves…this is temporary. So enjoy the moment."

“Sometimes we have to pivot, but do what's best for you. Stay patient and enjoy the journey.”

 “Our bodies are made to nourish our children, and I wanted to ensure that they got what they needed.”

 “I just think it's important for us to really, really just be grounded in our choice and know that we are doing something natural.”

Read the full newsletter!

In this Issue: 

The African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative is proudly supporting the sixth celebration of Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW), April 11-17, which was once again recognized by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and April 16, 2023
proclaimed “The Day of the Black Infant."

Founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA), BMHW is a week of awareness, activism, and community building. This year’s AAIMM campaign and activities for Black Maternal Health Week serve to amplify the voices of Black Mamas/Birthing Persons and center the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements.

Our goal is to shine a spotlight on the urgent need to uplift Black families as we continue working to grow our village of support for Black mamas/birthing persons and their infants. 

From Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA):

We are thrilled to reveal the official​ theme for Black Maternal Health Week 2023 (#BMHW23):​ “Our Bodies Belong to Us: Restoring Black Autonomy and Joy!” ​In light of the steadily alarming rise of maternal mortality in the U.S., which recent data shows has been exacerbated by the pandemic; and amidst growing cases of clear neglect in care in hospital systems immediately after labor and delivery, BMMA continues to highlight and center culturally-congruent practices with a focus on Black Midwifery care and full-spectrum Black-led Doula care as sound, evidence-based solutions. Most importantly, these are practices and solutions that incorporate the true needs, wants and desires of Black women and birthing people.

The African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative is aligning our 2023 campaign with messaging around the importance of growing the greater village of support around Black women/birthing persons before, during, and after birth in order to help support healthy and joyous birthing outcomes. As we support the efforts of BMMA during BMHW, we will also be sharing events from organizations within our network — including those hosted by our AAIMM Community Action Teams — creating social media posts and digital content, and providing information, which will enable us to get closer to our goal of bringing about more equitable birthing outcomes for ALL women. 

Please check our website hub this week for all event listings and other information, and feel free to share the link with your Village, and check our events calendar below:

In this issue: Black Breast/Chest Feeding Week 2023

Welcome to Black Breast/Chestfeeding Week! Our 2023 campaign, co-sponsored by the South LA/South Bay Community Action Team (SLASB AAIMM CAT) and the LA County AAIMM Prevention Initiative has now officially launched and we are looking forward to spreading awareness of Black Breast/Chestfeeding throughout the week and beyond. This campaign is also made possible through the support, guidance, information, and resources provided by partners BreastfeedLA, CinnaMoms and March of Dimes. 

In this email, please find resources that can be shared to support our efforts and help spread the word about the theme of our campaign: “Let's Grow the Village of Safe Spaces to Breast/Chestfeed,” with supporting sub-themes around breastfeeding, chestfeeding, and pumping. 

The terms "breastfeeding" and "chestfeeding" are used interchangeably and together to describe the action of feeding an infant human-milk. The term "chestfeeding" is offered as an alternate term for lactating persons who  prefer not to use the term "breast" when referring to their own bodies. This is the AAIMM Prevention Initiative’s commitment to caring authentically about the well-being of all individuals and to inclusivity (adapted from BreastfeedLA).

Resources include:

• Safe Space Directory
• Events Calendar Link
• Social Media Resources

Happy World Doula Week (March 22-28), a week in which we celebrate the people who labor alongside us throughout the entirety of the birthing journey, creating space for joy and liberation within the pregnancy experience. We salute some of our most valuable Village members this week!

Visit our Doula hub at BlackInfantsAndFamilies.org for more information about doulas, our doula program, profiles on the AAIMM doulas, and for answers to your frequently asked questions

In this issue: Visit our AAIMM Village at Taste of Soul 2023!

Join the African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative in celebrating and supporting pregnant Black moms and birthing persons, and expectant Black families, at the 2023 Taste of Soul event on October 21 in South LA. The event kicks off at 10am and ends at 7pm. 

Our booth number is Y23-25 and is in the KJLH area. Stop by and meet people from our AAIMM Village, which provides free doula services, Black dad groups, pregnancy tips, and resources for Black families. You’ll also find out how you can get involved in local efforts through one of our AAIMM Community Action Teams. 

This year, our booth space will include a Safe Space breast/chestfeeding tent, which will provide a semi-private place for families to breast/chestfeed and change their babies' diapers. This comfortable space will be equipped with two rocking chairs and footrests, breast/chestfeeding pillows, a diaper changing station, information on our new Safe Space directory, with listings
of businesses that are part of the Safe Space effort, and some giveaway items (while they last)! 

Get more information on our website. Hope to see you soon!

Thank you so much for your continued support of the African American Infant and Maternal (AAIMM) Mortality Prevention Initiative. Together, we're working to end the injustice of Black infant and maternal deaths in LA County and work towards joyous, healthy, and equitable birthing outcomes. In this newsletter, you'll find updates and news related to Prematurity Awareness Month, our recent Taste of Soul activation, upcoming events, and a very special announcement regarding AAIMM winning the 2023 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize. 

AAIMM Honors Prematurity Awareness Month and World Prematurity Awareness Day

November is Prematurity Awareness Month and November 17 is World Prematurity Awareness Day. Join us as we share tips and resources to help reduce the risk of premature birth, and support new parents of premature babies.

On our website, we are highlighting some of our partners and Village Fund grantees who are working to help families who are experiencing a premature birth, as well as those who can be part of the plan to take preventative measures to ensure a healthy and joyous birthing experience. 

We've also included a link to the March of Dimes 2023 Report Card, which shares the collective factors that contribute to maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, and provides nationwide statistics. It also points to ways that we can collectively work to improve maternal and infant health in the U.S. 

Download our Prematurity Awareness Guide which contains tips to activate your village as an anchor of support, learn the signs of premature birth, and help prevent premature birth.  

You can also participate in the conversation on social media by following @blackinfantsandfamiliesla and share our content using #PrematurityAwarenessMonth, #WorldPrematurityAwarenessDay, and #AAIMM.

From our Village to yours, happy holidays and best wishes for an impactful 2024. As we close out this year, we're sharing some of our highlights from 2023 and upcoming events, and honoring one of our founders and champions. 

Thank you so much for your continued support as we continue our work to bring joy and justice to Black families in Los Angeles County. 

It feels like 2023 flew by! In our 5th year as an initiative, we're proud of so many accomplishments in our efforts to bring about equitable birthing outcomes for all Black women and birthing persons and their infants. This year, however, showed us some wonderful wins, dynamic community events, and campaigns.

Here are just a few of our favorite moments celebrated as an AAIMM Village in 2023:

• AAIMM becoming a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2023 Culture of Health prize recipient 
  
  
• Expanding our Safe Space breast/chestfeeding efforts to include an online directory and Safe Space tent at Taste of Soul
  
  
• Welcoming new doulas into our award-winning Doula program
  
  
• Recreating our AAIMM Village with our Community Action Teams, Fatherhood and Doula programs at both the KJLH Women's Health Expo and Taste of Soul—both of which were attended by hundreds of thousands of people
  
  
• CDU's Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence (BMHCE) awarded a 5-year, $9 Million HRSA Integrated Health Services Grant
  
  
• Welcoming seven new Village Fund grantees
  
  
• Proclamation made by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors designating October 2023 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month and Sunday, October 15, 2023 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day of Remembrance

Dear AAIMM Village,

The Black Equity Collective (BEC) and partners, Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) and EVITARUS, are preparing for the launch of the "Black-Led Organizations: Strengthening California's Economy and Communities" surveylaunching on Tuesday, July 9th. We need your help to spread the word as far and wide across the state as possible!

For generations, Black-led nonprofits have worked tirelessly and courageously, to create innovative approaches and solutions to the most pressing challenges driving inequity in our communities. We lead with truth, strength, strategic disruption and love which shine through in the programs, services, and care we deliver. Our leadership also contributes to the iconic wealth and culture of California and it’s time that value is recognized as well.

In this Issue: Celebrating Fatherhood!

June is an exciting month for the AAIMM village! All month long, we're amplifying our Fatherhood program on our website, social media platforms, and through grassroots and media efforts. We're also looking forward to community events celebrating fathers and freedom.

Keep reading to learn more!

Recommendation as submitted by Supervisor Mitchell: Celebrate June 2024 as “Fatherhood Well-Being Month” throughout Los Angeles County; direct the Chief Executive Officer, the Directors of Public Social Services, Child Support Services, Children and Family Services, Mental Health, Public Health, Economic Opportunity and Youth Development, the Executive Director of Racial Equity, the Chief Probation Officer and the Public Defender, to promote father well-being resources and outreach events and activities through targeted outreach to underserved populations, public messaging efforts and social media, and add fathers as a subpopulation to each of the County’s prevention and promotion initiative’s focus areas and that focus area subcommittees work to further guide the implementation of the County’s recommendations and explore options to ensure that fathers have efficient access to accurate information and essential resources needed, as recommended in the Chief Executive Officer’s March 6, 2024 Workgroup Report; and take the following actions:

An open forum, drop-in platform for expectant, new and experienced fathers that propels their proactive engagement in their children’s and partners’ lives. The group creates a safe space for growth, feeding the mind, body and spirit of fathers as they raise their children and support their partners.

The Expecting Fathers Group is designed specifically for Black soon-to-be fathers and provides education, support and navigation tools for the prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum and early parenting periods.