Education – GRAAHI

GRAAHI Diversifies Kent County’s Doula Workforce by Training Black, Hispanic Doulas with Help from BCBSM Foundation

March 7, 2025 by Barbara Lash

by Jake Newby, MIBLUE DAILY, March 2025

The need for more diversity across the health care profession affects all areas of care and extends to the doula workforce. This disparity is one of many that the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) works to eradicate.

Through its multi-year MY PACE Program, the Black Womb Workers Doula Initiative supports adult learners interested in health care careers. GRAAHI’s Pathways to Health Care Careers Department aims to train 15 new doulas in Kent County in the first half of 2025. This program could prove to be a mutually beneficial victory for health equity in Kent County, Michigan by diversifying the area’s health care workforce and simultaneously improving maternal health outcomes for mothers who partner with doulas.

“Our program takes a comprehensive approach to prepare doulas as life-saving agents for Black moms and Black babies,” explained Vanessa Greene, CEO of GRAAHI “Black maternal health disparities are a crisis, and our doulas are trained to address systemic inequities head-on. They learn how to navigate healthcare systems, advocate for their clients, and provide holistic, non-medical support that extends far beyond the delivery room.

“Our goal is not only to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates but also to build a community of support that uplifts Black families,” Greene went on. “We want our doulas to be pillars of strength, knowledge, and compassion—offering the kind of care that saves lives and creates lasting, positive change in our communities.”

“We are focused on the certification piece by supporting workforce development,” said Dr. Te’Asia Jordan, GRAAHI’s director of education and access to health care careers. “Right now, that workforce is not reflective of the community. So, that means African Americans and Hispanics are underrepresented in the health care workforce. Our specific commitment is to empower individuals by providing the training and that certification the need to bring lifesaving information back to their communities.”

A 13-year study that observed nearly 1,900 mothers under the care of 574 doulas determined that support from a doula during labor and childbirth was associated with reduced cesarean section (C-section) frequency, low birth weight and premature labor. Doula care patients in the study were 89% more likely to start breastfeeding by six weeks when compared to standard care patients.

“A lot of people don’t even know what a doula is, and that includes adults who are not expecting,” said GRAAHI Post-Secondary Engagement Specialist Ashley Starr. “By offering education and creating opportunities, we aim to bring hope to the community. It’s a tragedy that the Black maternal mortality rate among Black women is so high. We believe that providing more knowledge and education can make a meaningful difference and inspire greater hope.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation teams with GRAAHI to certify potentially dozens of new doulas from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds

In 2024, GRAAHI received a grant through the Advancing Maternal Health Equity program through a partnership of BCBSM Social Mission and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation for $45,000, which the organization has dedicated to the Black Womb Workers program’s latest cohort of doula training and certification.

By reducing preventable complications and chronic conditions – such as C-sections and epidurals – and increasing breastfeeding, doulas offer an affordable solution for mothers who take advantage of their assistance, as they can reduce spending on these long-term adverse effects and sequelae. By providing funding, BCBSM helps contribute to mitigating these adverse outcomes.

“This funding will allow us to train and certify doulas across a wide age range, from 17-year-olds to retirees or those seeking a new career path,” Jordan explained. “It will cover the certification process and provide essential tools, such as a birthing ball and a yoga mat, to support the birthing individuals they assist. Additionally, it will help prepare them to be fully equipped, functional doulas serving families here in Kent County.”

Doula intervention is statistically proven to positively impact birthing outcomes, but doulas are rarely a part of the average mother’s birth care team. Factors like cost, lack of insurance and lack of awareness restrict doula access for many moms in the United States, particularly those living in low-income areas like Kent County. Many moms-to-be aren’t aware of what doulas are or the support they provide.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies” initiative expanded to include doula services for Medicaid recipients in 2023. In response, GRAAHI launched training programs to equip and deploy as many doulas as possible into Kent County.

Doulas do a lot to assist new moms, including the execution of a birth plan, which is a written outline of a mother’s preferences during labor and delivery.

“You don’t know what you don’t know, right?” Jordan said. “I’ve noticed that many expectant parents may have a general birth plan and focus primarily on their baby’s health during OBGYN visits, thinking that’s all there is to prepare. But there’s so much more to consider. A doula can provide personalized, non-medical support that a doctor might not have the capacity to offer—like grabbing you a sandwich, ensuring no one touches your feet if that’s your preference, or asking if you’d like the lights on or off. Doulas are there to support the entire birthing experience in ways that make you feel more comfortable and cared for.”

In 2025, Jordan would like to see GRAAHI train two new cohorts of doulas in Kent County. In addition to the cohort supported by BCBSM funding, she hopes a total of 30 new doulas are certified following a planned third cohort in the second half of 2025.

“I’d love to see all those doulas be partnered with at least one family,” Jordan said.

“We know that Black women in our country are more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women and non-white women. Doulas play an important in mitigating those disparities,” said Audrey Harvey, Executive Director and CEO of the BCBSM Foundation. “At the same time, we know representation matters and diversifying our health care professionals is hugely important to our future. GRAAHI works to deliver health equity in both areas, and we couldn’t be prouder to support its efforts.”

Jordan said she hopes doula training serves a steppingstone for many of the people who become certified.

“We don’t want them to stop at that doula level, we want them to stay curious about health care,” she added. “So, maybe go on to become a NICU nurse or a professional midwife. Possibly an OBGYN.”

Jordan and Greene find constant gratification in their work, specifically as when it comes to the Black Womb Workers doula initiative.

“It’s just knowing we’re providing access, community and equity by putting lifesaving information back into the community,” Jordan said. “…What I love the most about my role is the opportunity to empower people to say, ‘hey take your education to help save other people’s lives through the medical field.’ People might say, ‘oh I don’t have the GPA or oh I’m too old to go back to school.’ No. This program breaks down barriers. It allows them to become that sister, that brother, that advocate for someone that’s trying to bring someone else into the world. That’s what we need more of.”

Read the article on the MI Blue Daily Website:

https://www.bcbsm.mibluedaily.com/stories/community/graahi-diversifies-kent-county-s-doula-workforce-by-training-black-hispanic-doulas-with-help-from-bcbsm-foundation?utm_source=facebook-bcbsm&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=community&utm_id=health-prevention&fbclid=IwY2xjawI4ERpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaimIFcbDulniuqMlPx5o_ks87KifA1kjSLM8Rjx_74nmJ8myBdMuGNPPg_aem_tsuiQMWTCJTLHPyyg7XSbw

Raising Awareness: Addressing the crisis of Black Maternal and Infant health Disparities

April 18, 2024April 18, 2024 by Vanessa Greene

By Vanessa Greene, CEO, GRAAHI

In the landscape of maternal and infant health in the United States, there exists a profound and persistent disparity that demands our attention: the disproportionate rates of mortality and morbidity among Black mothers and infants. Despite advances in medical technology and healthcare access, Black women are still two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes and experience higher rates of pregnancy-related complications such as pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, and gestational diabetes than white women, and Black infants are more than twice as likely to be born prematurely and with low birth weights, factors that significantly increase their risk of mortality and long-term health challenges. Additionally, Black babies are twice as likely to die before their first birthday compared to White babies. These statistics paint a stark picture of the obstacles Black mothers and infants face in achieving optimal health outcomes.

The roots of this crisis run deep, intertwining historical injustices, socioeconomic factors, and systemic racism. From the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow laws to ongoing discrimination in healthcare settings, Black individuals have faced barriers to accessing quality care and have been subject to unequal treatment within the medical system.

Policy initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels are essential for driving systemic change. In the pursuit of equitable maternal healthcare, the roles of Black Birth Workers and Midwives are increasingly recognized as pivotal in improving birth outcomes. Through education, emotional support, and empowerment, doulas and midwives help Black mothers reclaim agency over their bodies and births, navigate the complexities of pregnancy and childbirth, and develop a sense of empowerment and self-efficacy. Thus, Black women who receive care from Doulas and Midwives experience lower rates of preterm birth and low birth weight infants, due to the personalized care and support they provide.

In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the urgency to address Black maternal and infant health disparities. Advocacy groups, healthcare organizations, and policymakers are increasingly mobilizing to develop solutions and advocate for equity in healthcare delivery. However, meaningful progress will require sustained commitment, resources, and collaboration across sectors. Continuous investment in and expanding access to doulas and midwifery care is essential for advancing equity in maternal healthcare and ensuring that all Black mothers receive the support and respect they deserve.

Mindful of the data and the growing disparities GRAAHI has committed itself to take seriously our responsibility to black birth givers in Grand Rapids in particular. We have been collaborating with community partners to introduce the concept of a birth plan to expectant parents as the first step to exercising agency over one’s birthing process. We continue to send our staff and provide resources for others in our community to become birth and breastfeeding doulas to elevate the voice of the birth giver and provide evidence-based information. We have incorporated a doula and midwife track to our Pathways Workforce Development Initiative to increase diverse leaders in the healthcare sector and another level of support to Black birth givers. We have also implemented a multidisciplinary Maternal Infant Health Task Force to develop specific, actionable, and measurable targets to significantly reduce mortality rates among Black mothers and babies.

Ultimately, achieving equity in maternal and infant health is not just a matter of improving healthcare access; it is a moral imperative and a reflection of our society’s values for life. By dismantling systemic barriers, confronting institutional racism, and prioritizing the well-being of Black mothers and infants, we can work towards a future where race and socioeconomic status is not a predictor of health outcomes.

Making Pregnancy Safer for Black Women

March 5, 2024 by GRAAHI Editorial

Dr. Natalie Hernandez-Green, Executive Director of the Morehouse School of Medicine Center for Maternal Health Equity, speaks with CNN about what’s being done to prevent more Black mothers from dying during or after pregnancy.

Dr. Natalie Hernandez-Green
Executive Director, MSM Center for Maternal Health Equity

By Martha Shade, CNN

ATLANTA — Kira Johnson was so excited to be a mother that she began planning her first son’s birthday party while still pregnant. The carnival-themed party she threw was epic: cake, cupcakes, and a movie poster she had printed up for the occasion.

Kira didn’t get to celebrate any birthday parties with her second son, Langston. She died hours after giving birth to him, suffering massive internal bleeding while her husband, Charles Johnson, pleaded for doctors to do something.

It’s a case so troubling it’s now taught as a cautionary tale in medical schools. And she’s just one of many.

Black women are three times more likely to die due to pregnancy than white women.

Poverty, lack of healthcare access, and obesity all play a part in the grim statistic, but that’s not the whole story; even rich, healthy, well-educated Black women face elevated risks giving birth.

Kira Johnson was a successful businesswoman, an athlete in good health, and she walked into the hospital with a supportive husband by her side.

Her life ended in the hospital, her husband says, after their pleas for help were ignored by doctors for almost 10 hours. And her husband walked out of the hospital a widow, with a newborn son in his arms.

As we celebrate Black History Month, here’s what’s being done to prevent more Black mothers from dying.

How Hospitals Can Help

Natalie Hernandez-Green, Executive Director of the Center for Maternal Health Equity at Morehouse School of Medicine, says she hears the same birthing stories over and over: Women who felt they were disrespected, whose concerns were dismissed and had birthing experiences that felt transactional and not relational.

“You want to be heard when you’re giving life. This should be the most amazing day of your life,” says Hernandez-Green.

The Center for Maternal Health Equity has partnered with local Atlanta hospitals to gather data about “Maternal Near-Misses” and see where the problems are.

Key to everything is listening to the patient, Hernandez-Green tells CNN.

“We want to respect that Black women’s voices are legitimate sources of data,” she says.

Beyond Morehouse School of Medicine’s commitment to training more Black doctors, one of the center’s approaches is to educate Patient Navigators to assist Black women, especially those who live in “maternal care deserts,” or areas without a lot of – or any — healthcare providers.

The Patient Navigators act as a bridge to doctors and other medical professionals.

They can connect women to providers – and Morehouse School of Medicine even vets those providers to make sure they provide good care to Black women.

The Patient Navigators then work alongside the pregnant woman from her first pre-natal visits to one year postpartum.

“The majority of pregnancy-related deaths happen in the postpartum period,” explains Hernandez-Green.

“More than 80% of these deaths are preventable. I always see opportunities. It’s not all gloom and doom, because there’s hope.”

Patient Navigators, Doulas, and Midwives

Heather Dobbs is a recent graduate of the MSM Patient Navigator program.

She had her own traumatic birth experience. Shortly after a scheduled c-section for her second child, she began to feel terrible. The anesthesiologist told her everything was fine, and she just needed fluids. Dobbs recovered briefly, then she says she began feeling “really awful” again. She said to herself: “I can’t die on this table without holding my daughter. Then I blacked out.”

When she woke up her husband, Michael, was by her side, crying. She had a port in her neck, where she had received an emergency transfusion. Doctors had performed a hysterectomy to save her life.

She was grateful to be alive but “later on, it sinks in that I was planning a larger family and now that’s not gonna happen.”

The experience made her want to help other women.

She thought about getting her nursing certification and becoming a midwife, but in the rural Georgia areas where she saw so much need, she would have had to work under an OB/GYN. And most of those areas didn’t even have doctors, so she decided to work both as a Patient Navigator and doula.

Although the roles can overlap, in general, a Patient Navigator helps patients find good care and advocates for them, while a doula actually helps a woman give birth. Many alumni of the Morehouse School of Medicine program, like Dobbs, choose to do both jobs. A midwife, in contrast, is usually a certified nurse.

As both a Patient Navigator and a doula, Dobbs follows women throughout their first year after childbirth, helping them handle the physical and mental health issues that can arise after childbirth.

April Witzel says she spent years as a labor and delivery nurse before becoming a midwife.

She has also catered to some of the most under-served parts of the state. She regularly sees women show up at the hospital right as they are about to give birth, without having had any pre-natal care, usually because they didn’t have insurance.

“I grew up poor. I’ve always thought everyone should be treated the same,” she says, explaining that her own life experience now informs much of what she does.

Witzel says she also wants to help address systemic issues that often keep Black women from accessing good care.

“When I got into healthcare, me being a Caucasian female working in a primarily African American community, I’d walk in and I’d see the look on their faces, and know they thought: ‘I don’t want her to look after me.’”

But after her patients got to know her and realized she was taking their concerns seriously, things changed.

“At the end of the day, women want to be heard, they want to trust their provider in the most vulnerable time of their lives.”

Many doctors are supportive of the additional help provided by midwives and doulas – as long as medical help is nearby when needed.

“I think there’s a place for birthing centers, midwives, doulas,” says Dr. Jocelyn Slaughter, an obstetrician and gynecologist.

“I love a good doula. I love a good midwife. Birthing centers are getting more safe; it’s good for patients that are low-risk,” says Dr. Slaughter.

CNN Anchor Abby Phillip recently opened up about why she opted for the combination of doula and a midwife when she gave birth during the pandemic. As she explained in a CNN editorial, she is a “a huge believer in modern medicine and someone who takes no unnecessary risks with my health” but she says she joined the growing group of Black women looking for more options.

Many women in the US often work all the way up until they give birth, usually in order to save up vacation days for after their child is born.

But Dr. Slaughter says that practice can be especially dangerous for Black women.

“I always say: ‘You know you’re not about to go on vacation, right?’”

“What if I told you in two weeks, you’re going to run a marathon, you’re going to give two pints of blood, and after the marathon we’re gonna wake you up every two hours?”

“Don’t you need a break before you go through this cardiac stress?” asks Dr. Slaughter.

Dr. Slaughter says she encourages her patients to take maternity leave by 37 weeks, to reduce their chances of developing conditions like pre-eclampsia, a condition that can be life-threatening.

“They’re working till the end, stressed out, feet swollen… so now they’re getting pre-eclampsia. I feel like my patients have a little lower rate of pre-eclampsia because I encourage them to start maternity leave by 37 weeks.”

While Dr. Slaughter is realistic that not everyone can afford to take that time off, she says when it’s possible, it can provide better outcomes for the mother and the baby.

Systemic Racism

Dr. Slaughter says people don’t like to talk about one of the main reasons Black women often receive inadequate care during and after pregnancy.

Slaughter says the lasting legacy of slavery and racism in the United States continues to affect Black women in all settings, including in health care.

“Because of that history, there are so many racial biases and so many socio-economic problems that women have had to fight through,” she says.

Dr. Slaughter says she believes Black women should be treated as more fragile than other women during pregnancy (and for the first year after they give birth).

“My piano teacher always told me being pregnant is like having one foot in the grave and one foot on a banana peel,” referring to all the potential perils of pregnancy.

“Black women in general have been looked at as these strong women… That’s all doctors; it’s not just white doctors. Black women are not stronger than others. They’re not.”

Dr. Slaughter says because of that misconception, doctors may miss cardiac issues happening in Black women.

The bottom line for Dr. Slaughter: “Black women need to be overly protected during pregnancy.”

How Doctors Can Help: Run That Extra Test

Dr. Slaughter also recommends medical providers remember that Black women’s bodies don’t always follow the rules in medicine “because the rules were not based upon their bodies.”

Many of the criteria for different medical diagnoses were based upon white men or white women.

“Blood pressure cut-offs, anemia levels, were not established with Black women in mind,” she says.

“I am not suggesting we get new criteria, but I do urge doctors to listen to Black pregnant women and err on the side of extreme caution when discharging or dismissing symptoms or complaints. Sometimes they know their bodies better than our medical school books.”

Kira’s Legacy

After his wife passed away, Charles Johnson pledged her death would not be in vain.

He has testified before Congress twice, helping to pass the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act in 2018 and then advocating for the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021.

He still prints up a movie poster for each of his son’s birthdays. It’s a small nod to Kira, the family tradition she started, and the birthday parties she would have loved to have been planning for them.

Langston Johnson turned 7 last April. His dad threw him a big party with a Super Mario-themed birthday cake.

READ the article https://www.msm.edu/RSSFeedArticles/2024/February/Black-Maternal-Safety.php

GRAAHI Empowers Black Healthcare Students with Scholarships During Black History Month

February 21, 2024February 12, 2024 by GRAAHI Editorial

Program seeks to diversify the healthcare workforce in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids, MI – February 21, 2024 –In celebration of Black History Month, the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) proudly announces the awarding of scholarships to nine deserving Black students pursuing healthcare careers. These scholarships, funded by the W.k.Kellogg Foundation are a crucial component of the organization’s multi-year Pathways to Healthcare Careers program. The scholarship program is named in honor of Dr. Khan Nedd, one of GRAAHI’s founding board members for his relentless dedication and contributions to GRAAHI and the health and well-being of the Black community.

Pathways to Healthcare Careers, in collaboration with educational and medical institutions, serves as a comprehensive program for underserved students to enter and excel in healthcare professions. Recognizing the financial barriers many students face, the scholarships add additional support, allowing them to focus on their studies and successfully navigate their chosen paths. Dr. Nedd emphasizes GRAAHI’s commitment: “We are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of Black healthcare professionals. These scholarships, combined with the Pathways program, address disparities in the healthcare workforce by empowering talented students and ensuring they have the resources to achieve their dreams of serving their communities.”

The nine scholarship recipients, selected for their academic achievements, community service dedication, and unwavering pursuit of healthcare careers, are:

Constance Phillips: Ferris State University, dental hygiene student.
Darron Trevino: Ferris State University, nursing student.
Tyona Brown: Ferris State University, dental hygiene student.
LaDonna Lewis: Davenport University, nursing student.
Kierra Washington: Grand Valley State University, exercise science student.
Sherie West: Davenport University, nursing student.
Zhaniya Robinson: Michigan State University, nursing student.
Todja Sanders: Ferris State University, healthcare career path.
Betty Millien: Davenport University, healthcare career path.
Samantha Harris, Davenport University, nursing student

Constance Phillips, a scholarship recipient, expresses her gratitude: “I am so grateful to

be a part of the Pathways program and to receive the Dr. Khan Nedd Scholarship. It

helps support my education so that I can focus on my studies and confidently pursue

my goal of becoming a dental hygienist and serving my community.”

“We are very proud of these students and excited about the service and contributions they will make to their communities,” added Vanessa Greene, CEO, GRAAHI.

To learn more about Pathways to Healthcare Careers, go to graahi.com/education.

Pathways Program Update: College Tours & Hands-On Experiences Foster Curiosity in Healthcare Careers

October 30, 2023April 25, 2023 by GRAAHI Editorial

By Mikisha Plesco, Director of Education

This past 2022-2023 school year, the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) Pathways program has partnered with the Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS), University Preparatory Academy and Ottawa High School and colleges and universities to provide students who are interested in a healthcare track the opportunity to complete a college tour focusing on college/university health programs. The hands-on experience that students were able to garner from the college tour created a lifelong impact.

In October 2022, Grand Rapids Community College kicked off the college visits by having students walk through a series of lab simulations that include the following fields: medical assisting, nursing, and occupational therapy. Students were able to use healthcare equipment such as syringes, lab dummy patients, stethoscopes, and various therapy equipment. What was important about the GRCC visits were the personal journeys that were told by the health professionals regarding their healthcare journey.

In January 2023, Davenport University hosted a college visit that focused on health activities: nursing and research query. Students had a chance to interact with equipment as well as a data set and reviewed data mining tools. Students’ various activities for the data set reviewed the rudimentary data sets as well as complex data such as music playlists. The information provided was relatable to students and engaging. Davenport University provided a unique opportunity for the student nurse association to present as well as have a presentation on their admission process.

In March 2023, Ferris State University hosted a college visit that focused on nursing and dentistry. Students were able to walk through the history of dentistry, put teeth in a mold based on the anatomy of teeth, walked through a live dentist clinic, and interact in the nurse lab simulation space. The students had a chance to talk with a student and their experience of Ferris as well as hear about their various health programs.

The unique experience that each college/university sparked student comments of wanting to continue the learning opportunities, wanting to see more on the campus, and enjoying presentations by students. The real opportunity that the colleges and universities are providing to each student is the opportunity to be excited about attending and being a part of a community that supports them in a healthcare track as well as getting students comfortable with being on campus. Having a sense of familiarity on campus and seeing the culture of the campus in the healthcare programs helps students to reimagine themselves on campus and ignites a sense of belonging prior to attending college. GRAAHI is truly grateful to GRPS school administrators, participating colleges and universities, and students and families that have participated in these healthcare college tours. The tours are truly making a difference in the joint communities we serve. GRAAHI looks forward to next year as we continue the healthcare college tours with a Fall 2023 kickoff with Grand Valley State University.

To learn more about Pathways, go to graahi.com/education.