Kavelle Christie, director of the Gender Equity & Health Justice Program, to present at Black Maternal Health Stakeholder Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       

July 31, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT: Jack Cardinal, (781) 960-5208, jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — On Tuesday, Aug. 1, Community Catalyst’s Director of the Gender Equity and Health Justice Program Kavelle Christie will deliver remarks at the Black Maternal Health Caucus Stakeholder Summit. In her remarks, Christie will urge for congressional action on the Momnibus package, which includes race-equity forward policy solutions that center the experiences, expertise and ideas of impacted communities.

The U.S. health system is built on inequity, with Black and Hispanic communities facing significantly worse health outcomes and experiences in our care. This is especially true for Black women, who often struggle to get culturally appropriate and compassionate care, and face judgment, fear, denial, or debt when seeking medical attention.

The Momnibus offers an alternative vision for America where Black women and families are treated with dignity and respect in and out of health care settings and are given the freedom to seek care from the medical providers of their choice without going into debt.

Statement from Kavelle Christie, director of the Gender Equity and Health Justice Program at Community Catalyst:

“We live in one of the world’s wealthiest nations, yet we have some of the worst health outcomes. That must change. More importantly, it can change.

“That’s why I am honored to present at the Black Maternal Health Caucus Stakeholder Summit. This is an opportunity to build cross-movement momentum for Black maternal health that generates solutions to increase access to health care services and improve the lives of Black mothers and those who hope to become mothers across the country.

“Community Catalyst and our partners have worked closely with Congresswoman Underwood’s office on the Momnibus legislative package because we have a shared vision of what the United States and its health care system can be for Black mothers.

“We need to take action with race-forward solutions that focus on the experiences, expertise and ideas of impacted communities. Only then can we ensure that Black people receive the health care they want, need and deserve. Because when Black women and communities thrive, we all thrive.”

You can view remarks, as prepared for delivery, below:

“Good afternoon, everyone,

“Today, I want to talk to you about the national maternal health crisis that is affecting our Black communities, from Texas to Georgia to Mississippi. It’s not enough to simply acknowledge the crisis; we need to take action with race-equity forward solutions that focus on the experiences, expertise, and ideas of impacted communities. Only then can we ensure that Black people receive the healthcare they want, need, and deserve.

“Because when Black women and communities thrive, we all thrive.

“As the Director of the Gender Equity & Health Justice Program at Community Catalyst, I’m honored to be here today to share our vision for a nation where everyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, or economics, has what they need to be healthy.

“But, before we can move forward, we need to understand where we’ve been. The U.S. health system is built on inequity, with Black and Latino communities facing significantly worse health outcomes and experiences in our care. This is especially true for Black women in America, who often struggle to get culturally appropriate and compassionate care, and face judgment, fear, denial, or debt when seeking medical attention.

“Danielle Wilson, who shared her story with The Guardian, is just one example of the countless women who have faced pre-and post-partum challenges trying to get essential care. She was pregnant with her third child amid the pandemic in spring 2021 and recently shared her story, saying, ‘For all they know, I could have died… We just want to be heard.’

“It doesn’t have to be this way.

“The Momnibus offers an alternative vision for America. A vision where Black women and families are treated with dignity and respect in and out of healthcare settings. It’s a world where we have the freedom to seek care from doctors, midwives, doulas, community health workers or other medical providers of our choice without going into debt.

“It’s time for the Senate to listen to the millions of voices nationwide who have been continuously generating and expressing public support and awareness for the Momnibus legislation. In order to increase bipartisan support, more organizations in the broader health justice movement must continue to join forces with those of us working in reproductive health spaces to demand action. Not only can we win, but we will.

“Beyond the necessity of the Momnibus, we urge policymakers to explore the impact of long-COVID on Black maternal health in the Momnibus 2.0 legislative package. We need dedicated funding for community-based organizations and federally qualified health centers for long-COVID outreach, education, and support to pregnant, birthing people, and women of reproductive age.

“For far too many, the impacts of COVID on our lives continues.

“Data have shown that most Black women get their COVID information from social media and the news, and yet there is a big gap in information and resources available related to long-COVID. We want to change that.

“Congress must increase funding to support state and local Modified Medical Research Council work and initiatives and mandate that data is made more readily available so that robust research and analysis is done to better understand the impacts that long-COVID has on pregnancy-related deaths, and importantly, if pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.

“We must also ensure Medicaid and private insurance coverage of long-COVID specialized rehabilitative services, such as complementary and alternative medicine, physical therapy, neuropsychology, or pulmonary rehab with a provider of the patient’s choice.

“These bold policy changes and strategies are rooted in the leadership and perspective of the people most harmed by today’s health system. Congress, as well as the Biden administration, has a unique opportunity to act, and we must push them to do so.

Thank you for having me here today and for your continued attention and action on these critical issues. Together, we can create a world where everyone has what they need to be healthy and thrive.”

If you would like to speak with Community Catalyst about our work to strengthen a movement that is rooted in health justice and where health is a right for all, please contact Jack Cardinal at jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org.

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About Community Catalyst:

Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for race equity and health justice. We partner with local, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit http://www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @CommCatHealth.