Association of Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health (APPPAH) Dear APPPAH Community, During this time of great change and upheaval, APPPAH stands in solidarity and support for equity, racial justice and social transformation in all areas of our society. We especially support the voices of all the Black and Indigenous mothers, fathers, babies, grandparents and extended families who have been living with the burden of racism and inequality for too long. In our organization, we have been examining our role in the current climate and determining how we can most effectively take action towards changing and healing the places where deep-rooted racism and injustice exists in the culture of pregnancy and birth. We acknowledge that this is a time not just for words, but for intentional action. APPPAH is committed to making a difference in the lives of the newest generation being born and for the people who support their growth in creating a healthier, more equitable world. In working towards that goal, APPPAH’s Diversity Committee is actively engaged in supporting quality education and care for pregnancy and birth for all communities that are marginalized and oppressed. Some of our efforts include: - Ensuring our educational programs meet the needs of diverse communities.
- Including speakers from diverse cultures at our meetings, conferences, Congresses and educational programs.
- Intentionally connecting with organizations that are for women of color in pregnancy, birth and postpartum care.
- Sharing resources and training with birth professionals that support more equitable care for moms and babies.
APPPAH is committed to educating about the impact of transgenerational trauma from systemic and institutionalized racism. This is seen profoundly in the disparity of birth outcomes for woman of color and Indigenous woman. For example, in the United States, Black women have a 2.5 times greater risk of dying during pregnancy and after birth than white women* and Black babies have a 2.3 times greater risk of dying than white babies**. Also Native American woman have twice the rate of maternal death than white woman. One thing the current pandemic has shown us is that woman of all races and ethnicities need access to quality maternal care in their own communities. We are compiling a comprehensive resource list specifically to support the needs of birthing woman and families of color that will be shared on our website soon. | 
Comments (0)