Perinatal Health Equity Initiative

Experts You Should Know: Dr. Fleda Mask Jackson 💜 Dr. Fleda Mask Jackson is a public health researcher whose work has expanded our understanding of how chronic stress and structural racism impact Black maternal and infant health. Her research affirms what many Black mamas have long shared: inequitable systems can affect health, pregnancy, and birth outcomes. At PHEI, we believe lasting change happens when research and lived experience work together. Dr. Jackson's work reminds us that improving Black maternal health means addressing the conditions that shape families' well-being. 💜 Save this post. 📚 Learn from the experts advancing maternal health. 📲 Share with someone who believes in health equity. #ExpertsYouShouldKnow #BlackMaternalHealth #BirthEquity #HealthEquity #PublicHealth #BlackMamasMatter #MaternalHealthResearch #CommunityCare #PHEI

The countdown is ON! 🖤🤱🏾 Black Breastfeeding Week 2026 is almost here! Mark your calendars for August 25–31 because this year's celebration is one you won't want to miss. We're preparing a week filled with empowering events, community connections, education, and resources that celebrate, uplift, and support Black mamas, babies, and families. Here's your first step:
🤎 Visit our website for a sneak peek of what's coming.
📧 Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about events, resources, and opportunities to connect throughout Black Breastfeeding Week. Whether you're an expecting mama, breastfeeding, pumping, chestfeeding, supporting a loved one, or simply passionate about birth and breastfeeding equity, there's a place for you. Save this reel, tag a Black mama, and share it with someone who should join us. Let's celebrate, connect, and build community together! #BlackBreastfeedingWeek #BlackBreastfeedingWeek2026 #SaveTheDate #BlackMamas #BreastfeedingSupport #BreastfeedingEquity #MaternalHealth #BirthEquity #CommunityCare #BlackMaternalHealth #LactationSupport #SupportBlackFamilies #PHEI #EssexCountyNJ

🎉 Exciting News! 🎉 We're thrilled to announce our new partnership with Focus for Health Foundation! Thanks to their generous $35,000 grant for 2026, PHEI will continue expanding our efforts to improve perinatal health by providing culturally responsive programs, education, advocacy, and resources that help families thrive. This investment represents more than funding, it represents a shared commitment to advancing health equity and ensuring more mothers, babies, and families receive the support they deserve. We are grateful to Focus for Health Foundation for believing in our mission and joining us in creating healthier beginnings and stronger communities. 💛 Together, we're making a lasting impact. #PartnershipAnnouncement #FocusForHealth #PerinatalHealth #MaternalHealth #HealthEquity #CommunityPartnership #NonprofitImpact #BirthEquity #PublicHealth #PHEI #StrongerTogether

🌸 Mamas in Bloom is welcoming new families! 🌸 Pregnancy and postpartum journeys deserve support, resources, and care that meets families where they are. Designed by and for Black mamas, Mamas in Bloom provides wrap-around support to help improve pregnancy, birth, and infant outcomes across Essex and Union County, NJ. From pregnancy through the first year postpartum, families receive:
💜 Education and guidanc💜Advocacy and support
💜 Resources and connections
💜Care from our nurses and community health workers ✨ All mothers are eligible, regardless of income. Families can enroll during pregnancy or within 3 months after birth. Ready to bloom with support? Comment "Bloom" to connect with a member our team #MamasInBloom #BlackMamasMatter #BlackMaternalHealth #MaternalHealth #BirthEquity #PregnancySupport #PostpartumSupport #CommunityHealthWorkers #HealthEquity #PerinatalCare #NJFamilies #EssexCountyNJ #UnionCountyNJ #PHEI

Experts You Should Know: Kay Matthews 💜 Kay Matthews founded the Shades of Blue Project after the stillbirth of her daughter, Troya Simone, and has become a leading advocate for Black maternal mental health. She also created Black Maternal Mental Health Week, helping ensure Black mothers feel seen, supported, and heard throughout pregnancy and postpartum. PHEI is proud to celebrate Kay and the lasting impact of her work. 🤎 Follow @shadesofblueproject to learn more, and share this post with a Black mama, birth worker, healthcare provider, or advocate. #BlackMaternalMentalHealth #BlackMamasMatter #KayMatthews #ShadesOfBlueProject #MaternalHealth #BirthEquity #HealthEquity #PerinatalMentalHealth #SupportBlackMamas #PHEI

Black Breastfeeding week is August 25-31 and we are kicking off the week with our 2nd annual Breakfast for Champions event where the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative comes together to turn awareness into action. 💛 Join us on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. as we kick off Black Breastfeeding Week (August 25–31) under this year's theme, "We All We Got." This year, we're calling on New Jersey to fulfill its promise to families. While landmark laws expanded Medicaid coverage for lactation support and donor human milk, too many parents still face barriers to accessing the care they're entitled to. Together, we'll advocate for:
 ✨ Full implementation of New Jersey's donor human milk regulations 
✨ A functioning Medicaid credentialing system so lactation providers can be reimbursed and families can receive the care they deserve. 
✨ Equitable, culturally responsive breastfeeding support for every parent. Breakfast for Champions brings together advocates, healthcare providers, community leaders, policymakers, and families who believe that breastfeeding equity is essential to maternal and infant health. Join us. Raise your voice. Be part of the movement to ensure every family has access to the support they need, from pregnancy through postpartum. 💛 Together, we can make breastfeeding equity a reality. Registration link in the comments! #BreakfastForChampions #WorldBreastfeedingMonth #BlackBreastfeedingWeek #WeAllWeGot #BreastfeedingEquity #LactationSupport #MaternalHealth #BlackMaternalHealth #HealthEquity #BirthEquity #CommunityAdvocacy #NewJersey #NJMoms #PHEI

Every Black mama deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. Black Maternal Mental Health Week is a time to raise awareness about the mental health challenges Black mamas face during pregnancy and postpartum, and to advocate for equitable, culturally responsive care. Here are a few facts that highlight why this week matters: ✨ Nearly 40% of Black mothers and birthing people experience maternal mental health conditions. ✨ Black women are among the most under-treated groups for depression in the U.S. ✨ More than 50% of postpartum depression cases among women of color go unreported. These statistics represent real people, real families, and a real need for change. Together, we can reduce stigma, increase access to culturally responsive mental health care, and ensure every Black mama receives the support she deserves. Swipe through to learn more, save this post to revisit these facts, and share it to help raise awareness. Your voice can help create change. 🖤 Source: Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, Black Maternal Mental Health: The Data, the Barriers, and Organizations to Support. https://lnkd.in/ec2tUX2n #BlackMaternalMentalHealthWeek #BlackMamasMatter #MaternalMentalHealth #BlackMaternalHealth #PostpartumDepression #HealthEquity #BirthEquity #MentalHealthAwareness #SupportBlackMamas #CommunityCare #MaternalWellness #PHEI

Join us for the next Sistahs Who Breastfeed session! 🤎 Your breastfeeding or chestfeeding journey deserves support, encouragement, and community. If you're a Black mama feeding a baby under 6 months old, this is a space where you can connect with others who understand your experience. Whether you have questions, want to celebrate milestones, or simply need a community that gets it, we're saving you a seat. ✨ Meet other Black moms ✨ Share your experiences ✨ Get evidence-informed support ✨ Build your village Don't miss the next class—register today and join us as we learn, connect, and grow together. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ePsFz4MH #SistahsWhoBreastfeed #BlackBreastfeeding #BlackMaternalHealth #BreastfeedingSupport #ChestfeedingSupport #BlackMotherhood #PostpartumSupport #NewMomSupport #VillageForMoms #CommunityCare #MaternalWellness #PerinatalSupport #SupportBlackMothers #BlackFamiliesThrive

"I am truly grateful that an organization like Perinatal Health exists to uplift and support Black mothers throughout pregnancy and beyond." That's Nancy, a Mamas in Bloom participant, describing what it felt like to be met with a real conversation instead of a checklist during her intake. Mamas in Bloom is PHEI's wraparound support program for Black women navigating preconception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, at no cost to participants. It closes the gap between doctor visits, the hospital, and home, with registered nurses, IBCLCs, doulas, and community health workers working as one team. Lack of continuity of care is a leading cause of preventable maternal mortality in New Jersey. Over six years and more than 700 families served, Mamas in Bloom has recorded zero maternal and infant deaths. This is what happens when care is built specifically for Black mothers, not adapted for them. Know a Black mama in NJ who could use this kind of support? Register her or learn more in the comments

You don't have to figure out breastfeeding alone. 🤎 If you're a Black mama breastfeeding or chestfeeding a baby under 6 months old, Sistahs Who Breastfeed is a space created for you. Connect with other moms, share your experiences, get encouragement, and build a community that understands the joys and challenges of your feeding journey. Whether you're just getting started or looking for ongoing support, there's a seat waiting for you. ✨ Come find your village. ✨ Ask questions. ✨ Receive support. ✨ Connect with sistahs who get it. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eXDnqsqh #SistahsWhoBreastfeed #BlackBreastfeeding #BlackMaternalHealth #BreastfeedingSupport #ChestfeedingSupport #BlackMotherhood #PostpartumSupport #NewMomSupport #VillageForMoms #CommunityCare #MaternalWellness #BreastfeedingJourney #PerinatalSupport #SupportBlackMothers #BlackFamiliesThrive