Dr. Venice Haynes
senior director of research at United States of Care
I wanted to offer an interview for your podcast with Dr. Venice Haynes, the senior director of research at United States of Care on the journey to motherhood. This conversation is particularly timely during Black History Month as we reflect on the urgent need to address maternal health disparities and ensure equitable care for Black mothers.
The stark reality is that Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than their white counterparts. United States of Care sought out to learn more about what was happening by listening to Black women. In order to pinpoint the challenges—we need to understand every step of her journey.
As part of this, they released the 100 weeks journey map (see the map here: https://100weeks.unitedstatesofcare.org/p/2) , an interactive experience which encapsulates pivotal moments in the maternal health journey, inclusive of the highs, lows, stressors, challenges, and supports from preconception, pregnancy, labor & delivery, postpartum, and child wellness. This tool captures the lived experiences, emotions, bright spots, and critical points of failure across the 100-week journey for Black women in the U.S.
Dr. Haynes would love to share what they found in their research and some of the innovative clinical care recommendations to build towards an ideal experience for Black mothers if you’re interested in an interview for your podcast.