Best Practices: Engaging Black & Brown Women Authentically in Mental Health; Community Baby Showers & PMAD

The advancement of maternal health outcomes, reduction of mental health stigma, and implementation of community-led practices are critical to promoting the overall well-being of Black women. However, achieving these goals requires authentic engagement with this population. Historically, Black women have been excluded from conversations around their own healthcare, resulting in poor maternal health outcomes and limited access to affordable mental healthcare.Before we are able to discuss best practices for maternal health outcomes or mental health outcomes for Black women, we must first be authentic in our engagement in calling Black women into the discussion. This project will deliver key takeaways from several mix-method projects on how best to engage Black women authentically in the work toward advancing maternal health outcomes, reducing mental health stigma and enhancing community-led practices.