AAIMM Prevention Initiative - Village Fund

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

The African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative, led by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, recognizes racism and stress engendered by racism as root causes of disproportionally high rates of Black infant deaths. The AAIMM strategy to address racism as a driver of birth outcome inequality includes major systems change efforts - the advancement of preconceptional and group prenatal care on a countywide basis and a far-reaching media campaign that takes on false narratives blaming the behavior of Black women for adverse outcomes. Simultaneously, our strategy recognizes the important contribution that grassroots efforts have, particularly if engaged, as part of a larger whole. The Village Fund is an innovative grant program that includes public and private funders to award small grants to individuals, organizations, and networks that provide valuable support and services to Black birthing women. The Fund invests in community members and community-based organizations' efforts outside of the traditional boundaries of philanthropy or county funding or what is typically considered health care. Grantees are invited to become messengers about the role of racism in Black-white birth outcomes disparities, critical members of the AAIMM network, and resources of hope for an equitable tomorrow.