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Brittany Lock published Janette Robinson-Flint Named 2024 California HERstory Maker! in News 2024-03-14 16:26:20 -0700
Janette Robinson-Flint Named 2024 California HERstory Maker!
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the California Legislative Women’s Caucus held an annual ceremony in the State Capitol to recognize seven California ‘HERstory Makers’. In recognition of her groundbreaking achievements, the Caucus chose our executive director, Janette Robinson-Flint, as one of the 2024 California Women Making HERstory. The California Legislature paid tribute to Janette on Monday, March 11th in Sacramento, presented by State Senator Nancy Skinner.
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Brittany Lock published JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: AAIMM Doula Program Coordinator - March 25 Deadline in News 2024-03-11 12:04:35 -0700
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT: AAIMM Doula Program Coordinator - March 25 Deadline
Since 2018, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH), in partnership with First 5 LA and community-based organizations, has led a broad African American Infant & Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM) to address the disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes caused by the societal and physiological effects of racism and discrimination. The AAIMM Doula Program launched in 2019 to match Black pregnant individuals with skilled Black birth doulas who provide support, advocacy, and education throughout the perinatal period. In addition to direct service provision, the Program also organizes workforce development opportunities for birthworkers of color and fosters demand for doula services via public awareness, clinician and community engagement, and statewide policy work.
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Brittany Lock published The Practical Playbook III: Working Together to Improve Maternal Health in News 2024-02-20 09:12:31 -0800
The Practical Playbook III: Working Together to Improve Maternal Health
[AAIMM Contribution: Activating Our Village in Los Angeles County: Birth Equity & Black Families
Authors: Sonya Young Aadam, Dr. Deborah Allen, Dr. Brandi Desjolais, Dr. Melissa Franklin, Adjoa Jones, Helen O’Connor, Kaci Patterson, Dr. Sylvia Swilley]Collective Impact Fuels Change in Maternal Health
More than 150 maternal health professionals join forces to create maternal health playbook
[CHAPEL HILL, NC] - Esteemed maternal health professionals in partnership withthe de Beaumont Foundation and the Maternal Health Learning & Innovation Center
(MHLIC) today announce the release of the highly anticipated book, The Practical
Playbook III: Working Together to Improve Maternal Health. This comprehensive and
groundbreaking work serves as a crucial resource for professionals across diverse
fields, providing practical and actionable guidance. A key focus of the book is to
encourage collaboration across sectors to address the multifaceted challenges in
maternal health.
In The Practical Playbook III, writers delve into the collaborative efforts essential for
improving maternal health outcomes. “The book is unique in that it brings together
the expertise of practitioners and people with lived experience who have known
about and been invested in reversing the maternal health crisis since before it gained
national attention,” said co-editor Lindsey Yates, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor
in the UNC Department of Maternal and Child Health.
The book offers a meticulous exploration of effective strategies, evidence-based
practices, and innovative approaches to address the complexities surrounding
maternal health.
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Brittany Lock published The California Abundant Birth Project (CA ABP) is now in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties!! in News 2024-01-30 14:45:24 -0800
Apply for monthly cash during pregnancy - The California Abundant Birth Project (CA ABP) is now in LA County!
The California Abundant Birth Project (CA ABP) is now in Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties!!
CA ABP is a guaranteed income program that provides cash during pregnancy. It was developed by Expecting Justice and the community to make birthing healthier and safer for the people facing the greatest risk during their pregnancy journey.
CA ABP provides cash with no strings attached as a strategy to prevent stress during pregnancy. Research shows this is likely to prevent babies from being born too early or too small and can also protect the health of the mother (birthing parent). By providing unconditional cash, mamas have resources to support themselves and their families, and babies have the chance at a healthy start.
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Brittany Lock published Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Named a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2023 Culture of Health Prize Winner in News 2023-11-15 15:49:35 -0800
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Named a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2023 Culture of Health Prize Winner
The Los Angeles County African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM) today received the 2023 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize. The prize celebrates communities across the country where people and organizations are collaborating to build positive solutions to barriers that have created unequal opportunities for health and well being.
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Brittany Lock published Motion Proclaiming June 2023 as Fatherhood Well-being Month in LA County in News 2023-11-02 00:29:52 -0700
Motion Proclaiming June 2023 as Fatherhood Well-being Month in LA County
MOTION BY SUPERVISOR HOLLY J. MITCHELL June 27, 2023
Proclaim June 2023 as Fatherhood Well-being Month in Los Angeles County
"House Resolution 36, introduced by Assemblymember Mike Gipson, aims to annually declare the month of June as Fatherhood Well-being Month. In 2021, there were 2,174,428 children, 0-17 years old, living in Los Angeles County (County)1. For each of those children, there is a father in their lives, existing in many forms such as stepfathers, foster fathers, relative caregivers, and father figures. Fathers are integral to families and provide a strong foundation for educational success and emotional well-being, which build pathways to economic mobility. The well-being of fathers is critical to active involvement and the ability to be a positive presence in the lives of children and families.
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Brittany Lock published Michelle Henderson, AAIMM Backup Doula in Doula Profiles 2023-10-01 23:14:23 -0700
Michelle Henderson, AAIMM Backup Doula
“(A) doula will provide non-judgmental prenatal and postpartum support that is in alignment with your family's needs.”
— Michelle Henderson, AAIMM Backup Doula
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Brittany Lock published iDREAM presents: Black Mamas Glowing Pregnancy Peer Support Group Experience in News 2023-09-25 22:25:39 -0700
iDREAM presents: Black Mamas Glowing Pregnancy Peer Support Group Experience
Enrollment is open now!
Upcoming KEY DATES:- October Cohort begins October 3rd, 2023 at 6:00 PM Pacific Time
- November Cohort begins November 7th, 2023 at 6:00 PM Pacific Time
All via Zoom
Purpose:
The primary focus for this peer support group is maternal mental health within the Black birthing community.Session 1 is all about birth planning in and outside of the hospital.
Session 2 is a brief overview of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and how they show up in Black birthing people.
Session 3 offers recommendations to tapping into culturally relevant social support. Our resource network is curated specific to Greater Los Angeles and surrounding counties.
Session 4 sums up each session before it to honor and remind mamas/birthing people how to advocate for themselves.We hope to ensure that each birthing person and their support person understand that autonomy and freedom of choice is at the core of having a sacred pregnancy and birth journey.
Intended Outcomes:
Our hope is that by offering this pregnancy peer support group we decrease isolation, build community between participants, and create sustainable solutions for reducing stress while pregnant. We aim to serve 15-20 Black birthing/postpartum families during each cohort. Our in-house evaluator has created two surveys (pre-session 1 and post-session 4) which we intend on using to curate the plethora of community resources specific to each participant's geographic location, produce new content, and present evaluation results at conferences.
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Brittany Lock published Arissa Palmer, Executive Director, BreastfeedLA in Breastfeeding Stories 2023-08-29 09:09:38 -0700
Arissa Palmer, Executive Director, BreastfeedLA
“I truly believe that every parent who wants to chest/breastfeed deserves the opportunity to have that chance.”
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Brittany Lock published K'Lynn Mitchell, RDN CinnaMoms Project Coordinator in Breastfeeding Stories 2023-08-28 10:45:07 -0700
K'Lynn Mitchell, RDN CinnaMoms Project Coordinator
“I'm very passionate about nutrition and its effect on chronic health and one of the best starts in life is breast milk.”
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Brittany Lock published Ronie Stewart, RDN, IBCLC/ Peer Counselor Supervisor in Breastfeeding Stories 2023-08-28 10:26:32 -0700
Ronie Stewart, RDN, IBCLC/ Peer Counselor Supervisor
“I am passionate about educating, empowering, and cheering on breastfeeding as the norm for our Black breast/chestfeeding families.”
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Brittany Lock published Dr. Tonce, Senior Health Equity Manager, Co-Creator CinnaMoms in Breastfeeding Stories 2023-08-28 10:10:50 -0700
Dr. Tonce, Senior Health Equity Manager, Co-Creator CinnaMoms
“It is amazing to see how CinnaMoms has led to the promotion of so many staff members at WIC. Seeing staff advance in their lactation careers has been quite rewarding.”
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Brittany Lock published Raena Granberry Sr. Manager of Maternal and Reproductive Health in Breastfeeding Stories 2023-08-28 09:32:06 -0700
Raena Granberry Sr. Manager of Maternal and Reproductive Health
“At a point in history the majority of this nation depended on Black breastmilk. We have to reclaim that.”
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Brittany Lock published Kirstein Smith, Breastfeeding Mama in Breastfeeding Stories 2023-08-28 09:14:29 -0700
Kirstein Smith, Breastfeeding Mama
“It helps them a lot with their immune system and it’s basically better to breast-feed because it helps you create a bond with your child.”
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Brittany Lock published Angela Abbott, Client Service Area Manager in Breastfeeding Stories 2023-08-28 08:20:26 -0700
Angela Abbott, Client Service Area Manager
Angela Abbott, Client Service Area Manager
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“I am grateful to have a supply that is more than enough for my daughter. I also decided to donate over 300 bags of breastmilk to a co-worker.”
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Brittany Lock published Angela Abbott, Client Service Area Manager in breastfeeding Q&A 2023-08-21 22:27:02 -0700
Angela Abbott, Client Service Area Manager
How did you become involved in supporting Black breast/chestfeeding in Los Angeles County and why are you passionate about it?
Through CORE, and SGV AIMM (the San Gabriel Valley Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative Community Action Team).
What is the most rewarding part of the work that you do to support Black breast/chestfeeding?
I can relate, as I am currently breastfeeding. But assisting mothers with support and advice is the most rewarding, and connecting them to the resources we have in the agency.
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Brittany Lock published AAIMM Featured on Spectrum News, VP Kamala Harris Tours Baby2Baby to Spotlight Maternal Health Crisis in News 2023-07-08 09:40:56 -0700
AAIMM Featured on Spectrum News, VP Kamala Harris Tours Baby2Baby to Spotlight Maternal Health Crisis
LOS ANGELES — On Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris toured Baby2Baby in Baldwin Hills to spotlight maternal health crisis. This comes just after the White House announced a new blueprint to address the crisis.
Locally, there is a big push to do the same. Dr. Melissa Franklin, director of maternal, child and adolescent health at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, says Black women are four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications in the county.
Dr. Franklin and additional members of the AAIMM Prevention Initiative members were interviewed on Spectrum News;
“The AAIMM Initiative… is our work to address birth inequity - the injustice of Black mamas, birthing folks and babies dying at higher rates than any other race,” said Dr. Franklin.
The Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence, a part of Charles R. Drew University of Science and Medicine, is working to address the issue by offering free and low-cost services to include prenatal and postpartum care.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL SPECTRUM INTERVIEW
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Elliette Johnson, AAIMM Doula
“A doula helps you prepare for your birth and navigate life on the other side of childbirth.”
— Elliette Johnson, AAIMM Doula
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Mia De Silva, AAIMM Doula
"A doula’s role is to provide you with all the tools you need to have an empowered and safe experience while bringing your baby earth-side."
— Mia De Silva, AAIMM Doula
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Lakeisha Solomon, AAIMM Doula
“Every family has the right to feel and be safe, supported, and heard throughout their pregnancy and birth experience.”
— Lakeisha Solomon, AAIMM Doula
Brittany Lock
Website/Content Manager