I Be Black Girl (IBBG) received a five-year grant funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau to create innovative solutions to improve Black maternal and child health in Nebraska through collaboration, data collection, and analysis, using a reproductive justice lens.
IBBG is the first and only community-based organization to receive this Maternal Health Innovation award since the program’s inception!
To radically transform maternal health through systemic level change that will support Black people with the capacity for pregnancy. By centering the needs of Black birthing people who have historically been pushed to the margins, we aim to create a Maternal and Child Health ecosystem that will transform systems for the health and well-being of all.
To develop and implement innovative strategies centered in equity and anti-racism and to effectively evaluate their impact ensuring that the innovations or interventions are not only ideal for our communities, but can be adapted to communities beyond Nebraska.
To improve state-level maternal health data collection, surveillance, and access, by supporting the state’s data infrastructure and developing innovative ways of giving voice to the Black maternal health experience.
To promote and execute innovation in maternal health service delivery through the strengthening of our Doula Passage Program, thereby building a network of culturally competent birth workers to support our Black birthing people through their pregnancy-related journeys.
Nebraska has a score of D- with preterm birth rate higher than the US rate.
Douglas County scored an F
Omaha scored an F
Black birthing people experience the highest preterm birth rate, which is 1.5x higher than the rate among all other races/ethnicities.
93% of pregnancy-related deaths in Nebraska were deemed preventable.
Nebraska ranks second-highest in the U.S. for percentage of maternity care desert counties.
The further a birthing person travels to access maternity care, the greater the risk for poor outcomes for both mother & baby.
Hospitals that predominantly serve Black people in Nebraska have higher rates of maternal complications and poor pregnancy outcomes.
The infant mortality rate among babies born to non-Hispanic Black women is 2.4X the Nebraska state rate.
Launched in January 2024, this taskforce is a collaboration of partners representing various expertise, disciplines, and perspectives that influence the contexts that drive maternal health experiences and outcomes. This is a multi-year project that will run until September 29, 2028.
Members of these action-oriented groups leverage their knowledge, expertise, talents, and lived experiences to support the taskforce in addressing critical gaps in the etiology of poor maternal health experiences and outcomes.
*Details on engagement to come
Our former Black Maternal Health Coaltion will now be a subcommittee under the taskforce where the priorities and work within this group will continue.
A partnership with Nebraska Appleseed and A Mother’s Love to build awareness around the state Medicaid unwinding process, which began in April 2023, following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic-era protections. Over 100,000 Nebraska have been terminated from Medicaid so far.
Our multi-media campaign was launched on March 1st, 2024, to raise awareness on the Medicaid redetermination process and to remind community members to complete their Medicaid renewal. This included state-wide messaging via billboards, bus-bench posts, social media posts, and post card distribution at local libraries, food pantries, community-based organizations, and many other locations within the community.
We've hosted several family friednly community events offering on-site Medicaid enrollment support. These gathernigs featured discussions on healthcare converage, Medicaid loss prevention and additonal healthcare converage needs. Convenings included vendor booths showcasing Medicaid value-added benefits and free childcare, food and a ift were provided for attendees
Contact your local Department of Health and Human Services to complete your Medicaid renewal process:
- Call toll-free at 1-855-632-7633
- Online at AccessNebraska.ne.gov
- If you believe you were unfarily denied Medicaid coverage, you have a right to appeal. For assistance, please visit https://neappleseed.org/gethelp
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