Black and Brown people in need of support during and after pregnancy can now get help in Florida.
An advocacy group called The SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, centers its mission on maternal health with its Birth Justice Care Fund.
The group's director, Leah Jones, says Florida's six-week abortion ban is the reason why they are expanding to Florida.
"As we are seeing people being forced to go to term with pregnancies, of course there is going to be an uptick of the need of essential items, there is going to be an uptick of the need for full spectrum doulas, for especially, maternal mental health therapy," she said.
Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.
A lack of quality health care, underlying chronic conditions, and implicit bias are some of the factors experts say contribute to the racial disparity in maternal health outcomes.
"I'm concerned about the lives of pregnant people," said Jones. "I'm concerned about birthing outcomes. What we're finding out is, it’s hard to say, I need help."
The Birth Justice Care Fund provides doula care, maternal mental health therapy, and baby supplies like diapers, bassinets, and breast pumps.
In addition, the fund assists pregnant people in accessing medical care.
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