Project Summary:
The goal of this learning event is to help alleviate disparities impacting Black women and pregnant people by increasing healthcare professionals’ understanding of lived experience. Research continues to highlight the critical role lived experience plays in shaping both access to care and the effectiveness of patient–provider interactions.
The anticipated impact in Wisconsin includes increased use of culturally responsive and trauma-informed care, stronger patient–provider trust, and improved collaboration between clinical providers and community-based birth workers. Through a combination of speakers and open dialogue, this event will illuminate the socio-emotional realities of pregnancy and birth, the experiences of fathers and partners in clinical settings, and the depth of social determinants of health that disproportionately affect this population.
By centering the voices of those most impacted by inequities, the event aims to foster more responsive, respectful, and effective maternal healthcare practices. Healthcare professionals often have limited opportunities to engage with community members outside of clinical settings, resulting in gaps in understanding patient experiences and barriers to care. This event addresses the need for deeper insight into community-identified challenges and supports, while also equipping providers with strategies to support their own well-being and reduce burnout.
Participants will increase their understanding of how lived experience shapes maternal health outcomes; identify barriers and supports impacting Black families; recognize the role of fathers and partners; strengthen collaboration with community-based providers; and explore approaches to provider well-being. These learning objectives will be achieved through a combination of facilitated dialogue, lived-experience storytelling, expert lecture, and interactive sessions designed to promote reflection, peer exchange, and practical application to clinical practice. The learning event is designed for a multidisciplinary maternal health workforce from across Wisconsin, with a strong concentration of participants from the southeastern region.
The audience will include clinicians and healthcare professionals such as obstetricians, midwives, nurses, behavioral health providers, and public health practitioners, as well as community-based maternal health providers including doulas, lactation consultants, and family support specialists. Participants will also include healthcare administrators, hospital and health system leaders, health educators, and representatives from nonprofit and community organizations that support maternal and infant health. Organizations represented typically include hospitals and health systems, community health centers, local and state public health agencies, academic and training institutions, and community-based maternal health and family support organizations. The event intentionally brings together professionals working across clinical care, public health, behavioral health, and community-based support systems to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and shared learning around maternal health equity and improved care delivery.
Community Partners: Dr. Lia Knox, Melanated Daddy / Dad Doulas, Culture x Design, ThriveOn King