D. Sue Townsel

These are the important and needed resources...... 

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🌟 Transforming the Future of Healthcare Research shows that Black people have better health outcomes and receive medical care more frequently when treated by Black physicians. Yet, only 7% of medical school graduates and less than 6% of all practicing doctors are Black. This is why the National Medical Association is proud to support efforts that make a real difference. Today, during our Annual Convention, the Greenwood Initiative announced a transformative $600 million commitment to help diversify the medical field and advance health and racial wealth equity. This investment will significantly bolster the endowments of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science, Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine. WATCH HERE: https://bit.ly/46yhN8p In addition to strengthening these institutions, the commitment will support the creation of a new medical school in New Orleans, the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine. This historic move aims to increase the number of Black physicians and improve healthcare outcomes for Black communities nationwide. Join us in celebrating this monumental step towards a more equitable future. The NMA Convention is where groundbreaking initiatives come to life, and this is just one of the many reasons you can't afford to miss it! #NMA2024 #HealthEquity #DiversityInMedicine #HBCUs #GreenwoodInitiative #BlackExcellence #MedicalEducation #NMANYC24

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No one cares about you!   Dear non-profit leader,   Funders want to support initiatives that create meaningful change.   Funders do not care if you are not able to meet payroll requirements.   Funders do not care about the existence of your non-profit organization.   It’s your IMPACT that truly matters.   Funders seek nonprofits that track progress and achieve impact.   Funders look for solutions that tackle social problems effectively.   Whether you are facing tough times or not….   ….Your fundraising messaging SHOULD only focus on the potential IMPACT.   Once you have demonstrated IMPACT   People will want to ensure that you keep doing the good work.   IMPACT precedes any sustainability conversation. Do you agree? Pic: Hanging out with Janet Kibunyi

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It was an honor to hear Esa M Davis, MD MPH FAAFP share her powerful story at the “Mitigating the Impact of Racism on Maternal and Child Health” event. Her journey through postpartum heart failure highlighted the systemic barriers Black mothers face—barriers reflected in Maryland’s alarming maternal mortality rate of 21.3 per 100,000, with 80% of these deaths preventable. 📊 The facts are clear: Hypertensive disorders and systemic racism are major contributors. 💡 The solution is clearer: Evidence-based interventions like blood pressure screenings during pregnancy can save lives. Health equity means ensuring every mother has a fair chance at a safe and healthy pregnancy. Together, we can build a future where no mother is left behind. 🤝 #HealthEquity #MaternalHealth #EndDisparities #CommunityCare

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#BlackMaternalHealth Take a look at the video below. How do we openly speak about Black Maternal Health in a way where people understand the crisis we face as black women?

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https://lnkd.in/ekuJtgW4 Examples here of what is happening at the state and federal level to advance respite care, which we must support through any transitions. States are employing various means of reaching diverse and needy families through single touch points and coalitions with other entities such as faith-based organizations. I was happy to see that academia was mentioned at least in one example as part of coalition building. Also mentioned are recruitment strategies for building respite workforce. Some states are hitting all the right buttons and these should serve as models for other states, and also for expanding help to other areas beyond respite. The best way you can ensure innovative programming at the state and federal level is to let your legislators know that these are priorities. These efforts require financial support. #newagingpartnership #caregivingconfidential #respite #nationalacademyforstatehealthpolicy #caregiving

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Ahead of #Juneteenth2024, another great Word In Black feature about #digital literacy and access in Black communities. #Juneteenth #digitalaccess #digitalequity #BlackAmericans https://lnkd.in/ewMCX5Jv

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The number of Black doctors in the United States remains disproportionately low, despite efforts to address historical inequalities. This lack of representation has significant implications for the health and well-being of Black communities. Black patients are more likely to trust Black doctors, leading to improved health outcomes and greater access to care. Additionally, Black doctors are better equipped to understand the unique health challenges faced by Black communities and provide culturally competent care. It's crucial to invest in programs that support Black medical students and address systemic barriers to entry into the medical profession. By increasing diversity in the medical field, we can work towards a more equitable and just healthcare system for all. 📖Read "Only 1.8% of US Doctors Were Black in 1906 – And The Legacy of Inequality in Medical Education Has Not Yet Been Erased" to learn more about this important issue and how you can support positive change. 🔗https://lnkd.in/eqsnw6hx #healthcare #diversity #medicaleducation #Blackdoctors #equity

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Black mothers have long navigated a healthcare system that too often dismisses their voices and experiences. Yet, amidst the challenges, there is also profound joy, strength, and resilience in the birthing journey. This video captures those powerful, raw, and emotional realities—highlighting both the joys of bringing life into the world and the heartbreaking moments of being dismissed by doctors and hospitals. It also highlights the transformative role doulas play in bridging these gaps, offering advocacy, compassion, and culturally competent care that truly uplifts Black mothers and families. 🎥 Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gRPVeqeV Let’s continue to amplify these stories, honor these experiences, and advocate for a healthcare system that listens, supports, and values every mother. ✨ Doulas are more than birth workers—they are change agents, healers, and champions for equity in maternal health. ✨ If this resonates with you, I invite you to share, comment, and join the movement to create safer and more equitable care for Black mothers everywhere. https://lnkd.in/gC64evSb #BlackMaternalHealth #DoulaCare #EquityInAction #Advocacy #MaternalHealth

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The Grassroots Maternal and Child Health Initiative is proud to support @CHC: Creating Healthier Communities as they disseminate the Black Birthing Initiative needs assessment survey. The Black Birthing Initiative aims to reduce preterm births in Black communities across the country: Black women are 50% more likely to deliver a premature baby than white women in the United States. Results from the survey will help inform programs to address the #maternalhealth crisis facing Black communities. Share your experience and share the survey! Visit the link to learn more about eligibility criteria: https://bit.ly/IndyBBI #CHCBBI #BlackMaternalHealth #healthequity #birthjustice

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Effectively addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and promoting health equity in communities requires an intentional focus on cross-sector partnership among public health, health care, and community-based organizations (CBOs). In the blog post, Unlock the potential of cross-sector SDOH partnerships with intentional collaboration, we'll describe structures that cross-sector partnerships can put in place to set themselves up for success. To read the entire blog post, please visit the Getting Further Faster website: https://ow.ly/nMKy50S9XFz

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Effectively addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and promoting health equity in communities requires an intentional focus on cross-sector partnership among public health, health care, and community-based organizations (CBOs). In the blog post, Unlock the potential of cross-sector SDOH partnerships with intentional collaboration, we'll describe structures that cross-sector partnerships can put in place to set themselves up for success. To read the entire blog post, please visit the Getting Further Faster website: https://ow.ly/nMKy50S9XFz

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This month at Heal for Black People, we are shining a spotlight on the health of Black men. It's essential to address the unique challenges and health disparities faced by Black men to promote overall well-being and a healthier future. Throughout the month, we'll be sharing vital information and resources on: 🔵 **Prostate Health:** Learn about the importance of regular screenings, early detection, and preventive measures to combat prostate cancer, which disproportionately affects Black men. 🔵 **Erectile Dysfunction:** Understand the underlying causes, treatment options, and the importance of discussing this common issue with healthcare providers to improve quality of life. 🔵 **Mental Health:** Break the stigma surrounding mental health in our community. We'll provide insights into managing stress, anxiety, depression, and the importance of seeking professional help. 🔵 **Addictions:** Explore the impact of substance abuse, strategies for overcoming addiction, and available support systems to foster recovery and resilience. Join us in this crucial conversation, share these resources with your networks, and let’s work together to support the health and well-being of Black men. #BlackMensHealth #ProstateHealth #MentalHealth #ErectileDysfunction #AddictionRecovery #HealForBlackPeople https://lnkd.in/eKh4wwPt

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These actions are critical to breakdown the significant barriers that our minority women face. We need health equity to improve maternal mortality rates and diminish these health disparities. #Healthequity, #DEI, #maternityequity #minorityhealthmonth

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Anger, disappointment, disbelief, fear, stress, and, anxiety, is the weathering Black birthing bodies treated in healthcare systems encounter each day. This publication paired with the 9/10/24 New York Times article exposing the findings of one of the largest studies that confirmed the drivers of Obstetric Racism in NJ played out through unnecessary C-sections on Black pregnant people to fill operating rooms, is a reminder of just how much oppression, discrimination, and dehumanization the Black reproductive journey faces. The dots are connecting and it is no longer hidden in plain sight. Black bodies are most profitable when they have no agency, autonomy, or control over their bodies. If the 25% of forced elective C-sections given to Black birthing people in NJ had Doulas, would there be a profit margin for the healthcare systems and providers that operated the 68 hospitals in the study?? In the 1600’s one Black body was worth an extra 10 acres of land to fuel the New Jersey economy. Today in the healthcare system what’s the profit margin of one Black womb in New Jersey???? Commodification of Black bodies in New Jersey has not stopped clearly. The $2,246 funeral expenses cap or the $524 for a Medicaid recipient in NJ to be handed back to their family as a container of ashes may be much cheaper than just sustaining Community Doulas, which evidence based research asserts can reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, especially where disparities are in the southern region of the state. (Dreaa Austin and others should still be alive). Can a pregnant person with Medicaid in Salem, Atlantic City, Bridgeton, Camden, Pleasantville, or Millville even find a Community Doula? When will this resolve? For every family that does not have access to evidence based resources and supports meant to improve birth outcomes, it is also a family that should consider a mortuary pre-need. Why? Because Black women are STILL 7x more likely to die in NJ in comparison to their White counterparts. NJ is still 29th in Maternal Mortality outcomes. Moving from 47th over a year ago was not a victory. We moved simply because other states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and others did worse. The more information and studies that emerges the more unsafe and less empowered some people in disparate communities feel. It should not be this way. #blackmaternalhealthmatters #doulasmatter #doulasarearesource #theyarenottheanswer #endblackmaternalhealthcrisis #blackmaternalhealthcareaparteid

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Explore how #Medicaid supports school-based health care in Ohio, ensuring students have access to essential health services where they learn in this new paper from Health Policy Institute of Ohio https://lnkd.in/e-E7Y-jP

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*ICYMI*: Survey by KFF shows "Black Women Report More Pervasive Negative Experiences in Health Care Compared to Other Groups" In summary, Black women are reporting more pervasive negative experiences in healthcare than other groups. ✅We are more likely to report unfair treatment and to practice vigilant behavior. ✅Younger Black women and those with darker skin are more likely to report unfair treatment. ✅One in three Black women says these negative experiences make them want to avoid seeking care resulting in worse health ✅Black women who have racially concordant clinicians report more positive interactions. Link: https://lnkd.in/eU7YXA7u

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