BLACK BIRTHWORKERS COMMUNITY

The goal of Maternal Mental Health NOW’s Black Birthworkers Community is to build capacity, create community, and provide support to Black birth workers in order to improve access to holistic, culturally appropriate perinatal mental health care for Los Angeles County’s Black birthing population.  Under the leadership of a 12-person Advisory Council, the Black Birthworkers Community organizes events and initiatives that provide opportunities for care, celebration, support and connection between members of the Black workforce serving LA’s Black birthing community.  

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Are you providing care to the Black birthing population in Los Angeles County? Would you like to learn about future opportunities for rest, relaxation, care, connection and celebration? Please click the link below to stay informed!

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ADVISORY COUNCIL

Alina Whitmore, PsyD, LMFT
Alina Whitmore, PsyD, LMFTChief Executive Officer
Youth Enterprise Inc.
Anita Burdette, LCSW
Anita Burdette, LCSWClinical Supervisor
Anna King, PhD, LCSW, PMH-C
Anna King, PhD, LCSW, PMH-CDeputy Executive Director
Aziza Shepard, Ed.D, LMFT, MPA
Aziza Shepard, Ed.D, LMFT, MPACo-Founder and Executive Director
Ebony Harvey, FNP-C
Ebony Harvey, FNP-CNurse Practioner and Birth Doula
Janelle Watson, LMFT, PMH-C
Janelle Watson, LMFT, PMH-CLicensed Marriage Family Therapist
Kimberly Gray, MTS
Kimberly Gray, MTSDirector of Strategic Partnerships
Marquita Jones
Marquita JonesCommunity Outreach Liaison
The Children’s Collective Inc., Black Infant Health Program
Nakeisha Robinson, MA, LMFT
Nakeisha Robinson, MA, LMFTHealth Program Analyst II | Perinatal Innovation Unit
Shiré Wortham, MSW
Shiré Wortham, MSWAssociate Director of Social Services
Sinmi Bamgbose, MD
Sinmi Bamgbose, MDPsychiatrist
Sydney Curls, DPT, PT
Sydney Curls, DPT, PTPelvic Health Physical Therapist

Black Birthworkers Enrichment Fund

LA County Black Birthworkers Enrichment Fund – Round 2 is Here!

Supporting Those Who Care for Our Community

Black communities face some of the most substantial barriers to accessing timely, culturally sensitive, and informed perinatal health and mental health care. The providers best equipped to deliver this high-quality care – Black birthworkers – carry heavy financial burdens to sustain their practices and care for families. As a result, our region faces a severe shortage of holistic, Black-led resources, which are essential to supporting families navigating pregnancy and postpartum.

In Response to the Need:
Maternal Mental Health NOW launched the LA County Black Birthworkers Enrichment Fund to improve the well-being and birth outcomes of the Black birthing community by caring for those who care for them.

In its first round, the fund received 29 submissions, highlighting the immense need within the birthworker space. We proudly awarded $10,400 to 17 Black birthworkers, primarily for education and training. Now, we are excited to more than double that impact with our second round!

Round 2 is Open!
We are now offering a single-level $400 award to support Black birthworkers in Los Angeles County. This funding can be used for training, essential resources, personal expenses, or self-care to ensure that birthworkers have what they need to continue delivering the highest quality care.

Important Dates:

  • Applications Close: April 11, 2025
  • Award Announcement: May 2025

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must be Black birthworkers actively serving Black birthing people in Los Angeles County.
  • Those who received funding in the 2023 cycle are not eligible to apply this round, to ensure more birthworkers can benefit. However, you are welcome to apply in the next cycle!

How to Apply:
Complete the short application form. View the FAQ document for additional info.

For questions, concerns, or feedback, please email us at bbw_fund@maternalmentalhealthnow.org.

HISTORY

The Black Birthworkers Community is a direct response to the Perinatal Mental Health Conference for Black Birthworkers, Providers & Clinicians that Maternal Mental Health NOW and iDREAM for Racial Health Equity hosted in May 2021. The conference was the culminating event of the Improving Perinatal Mental Health Outcomes for Pregnant and Postpartum Black Birthing People in LA County project.  The conference had 188 attendees, including mental health professionals, doulas, lactation consultants, parent and childbirth educators, nurses, home visitors, midwives, and physicians.  Overwhelming feedback from conference participants included requests to have additional opportunities to learn, network, celebrate and care for other Black birth workers on an ongoing basis.

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