Maternal and Family Health
Current Programs
The Black Maternal Health Week campaign happens every year April 11-17.
The week focuses on awareness, activism, and community building intended to amplify community-driven policy, research, and care solutions with a focus on maternal health, birth, and reproductive justice in the United States. Additionally, the month of April is recognized in the United States as National Minority Health Month – a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities. To support these efforts, Los Angeles Public Library provides information and community resources to support Black mothers and their families.
Doula Who? Doula How? Doula What? Body Autonomy and Your Rights During Birth
Join us for a family-centered webinar to discuss how doulas can support families in creating their desired birth using principles of informed consent.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 11 a.m., online
Please see our event calendar for more information.Featured Titles
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A Life Beyond Reason: A Father’s Memoir
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Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America
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At mama's knee : mothers and race in black and white
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Birth without fear
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Black women's mental health : balancing strength and vulnerability
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Black, pregnant, and loving it : the comprehensive pregnancy guide for today's woman of color
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Body & soul : the Black women's guide to physical health and emotional well-being
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Creating compassionate kids : essential conversations to have with young children
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Debunking the bump : what the data really say about pregnancy's 165 biggest risks and myths
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Expecting better : how to fight the pregnancy establishment with facts
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Getting paid while taking time : the women's movement and the development of paid family leave policy
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How to prepare for home birth : the joy of having babies at home for health and well-being
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Ina May's guide to childbirth
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Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty
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Mama glow : a guide to your fabulous abundant pregnancy
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Motherhood so white : a memoir of race, gender, and parenting in America
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Mothering the new mother : women's feelings and needs after childbirth : a support and resource guid
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My Brown Baby : on the joys and challenges of raising African American children
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Not Your Mother’s Postpartum Book: Normalizing Post-Baby Mental Health Struggles, Navigating #MOMLife, and Finding Strength Amid the Chaos
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Oh Sis, You’re Pregnant!: The Ultimate Guide to Black Pregnancy & Childbirth
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Pregnancy blues : what every women needs to know about depression during pregnancy
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Pregnant While Black: Advancing Justice for Maternal Health in America
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Reproductive injustice : racism, pregnancy, and premature birth
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Revolutionary Mothering: Love on the Front Lines
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The End of Bias: A Beginning: The Science and Practice of Overcoming Unconscious Bias
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The first forty days : the essential art of nourishing the new mother
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The fourth trimester companion : how to take care of your body, mind, and family as you welcome your
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The good mother myth : redefining motherhood to fit reality
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The many faces of home birth : 25 honest, firsthand accounts from parents around the world
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The Mocha manual to a fabulous pregnancy
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The new dad's playbook : gearing up for the biggest game of your life
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The pregnancy & postpartum anxiety workbook : practical skills to help you overcome anxiety, worry,
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The pregnancy primer : the expectant mother's guide to all 9 months
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The unapologetic guide to Black mental health : navigate an unequal system, learn tools for emotiona
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The women who caught the babies : a story of African American midwives
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This Boy We Made: A Memoir of Motherhood, Genetics, and Facing the Unknown
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Understanding your moods when you're expecting : emotions, mental health, and happiness-before, duri
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Unfinished business : paid family leave in California and the future of U.S. work-family policy
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We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood
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Welcome to Wherever We Are: A Memoir of Family, Caregiving, and Redemption
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What no one tells you : a guide to your emotions from pregnancy to motherhood
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When you're expecting twins, triplets, or quads : proven guidelines for a healthy multiple pregnancy
Resources
USC Center for the Changing Family
USC Center for the Changing Family features news, research, and anti-racist resources for families, as well as COVID-19 assistance.
The Help Group
The Help Group serves children, adolescents, and young adults with special needs related to autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse, and emotional challenges.
African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative (AAIMM)
AAIMM is a coalition of the L.A. County Health Agency (Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Health, and Department of Health Services), First 5 L.A., community organizations, mental and health care providers, funders, and community members united to address the unacceptably high rates of Black infant and maternal deaths in Los Angeles County. The coalition has Community Action Teams throughout Los Angeles County as well as a community doula program for Black birthing families.
My Care App
This is Maternal Mental Health NOW’s Emotional Wellness Self-Help Tool for helping those who want to become pregnant, are pregnant, and those who just welcomed a baby understand and manage perinatal depression and anxiety.
Association of Black Women Physicians
An organized network of African-American women physicians committed to the improvement of public health and welfare, through the advancement of knowledge concerning women and the community health.
Black Women for Wellness
A multi-generational, community-based organization committed to the well-being of Black women and girls by building healthy communities through health education, empowerment, and advocacy.
California Black Women’s Health Project
A project that recognizes the importance of uplifting the voices of Black mothers and families and supporting Black Birth Workers on the frontlines serving our community. Committed to advocating for policies that address implicit racial bias and expand opportunities for Black Birth workers to meet the needs of Black women, babies, and families.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Provides technical assistance, trainings, and capacity building for grassroots organizations, maternity care service providers (e.g. clinicians, midwives, doula networks, and community health workers), academia, and the public health industry.
The Frontline Doulas Hotline
A respectful "warm line" that allows Black pregnant and postpartum individuals throughout California to connect to a community doula for a free emotional support phone call or text.
BreastfeedLA
Dedicated to improving the health and well-being of infants and families through education, outreach, and advocacy to promote and support breastfeeding. BreastfeedLA has extensive resources for parents, health professionals, hospitals, and employers and a number of programs and resources to improve the landscape of breast/chestfeeding support for communities of color.
Irth App
Irth app helps Black and brown women and birthing people have a more safe and empowered pregnancy and parenting experience by allowing users to see how other parents of color experienced care at a doctor or hospital.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
Mental illness can have wide-reaching effects on a person’s health, educational achievement, employment and well-being. Didi Hirsch’s experts provide evidence-based treatment to low-income children and adults with mental disorders or behavioral challenges.
March of Dimes
A national organization fighting for the health of all moms and babies. The organization supports moms throughout their pregnancy, educates medical professionals and the public on best practices, conducts lifesaving research, advocates for policies that prioritize the health of moms and babies, and provides comfort and support to families in the NICU.
Los Angeles County Maternal Mental Health Directory
Lets individuals find help for mental health concerns during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
L.A. County Black Infant Health Program
Within a culturally affirming environment and honoring the unique history of African American women, the Black Infant Health (BIH) Program uses a group-based approach with complementary client-centered case management to help women develop life skills, learn strategies for reducing stress, and build social support. BIH serves African-American women who are 18 years or older and up to 30 weeks pregnant at the time of enrollment. Black Infant Health has program locations in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Antelope Valley.
LA County MAMA’s Neighborhood
A mother-centered prenatal care and health coordination program for women receiving prenatal care with the L.A. County Department of Health Services (DHS). Offers a variety of services including affordable health care, individualized care coordination, prenatal classes, breastfeeding consultations, hospital tours, and more.
CinnaMoms
A program of PHFE WIC. Hosts support circles in Los Angeles, Crenshaw, Inglewood, South Bay, Bellflower, and Pomona areas. Their mission is to create a cultural space that promotes empowerment and self-transformation for African American women to come together to share and advocate for breastfeeding, parenting, and health for the entire life course.
Kaiser Permanente’s Postpartum Depression Resources
Kaiser Permanente has information on the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression as well as various treatment options.
iDREAM for Racial Health Equity
Addresses racial and ethnic disparities in African American health and examines critical solutions to the infant mortality crisis in Los Angeles County. iDream is a leadership, training, and advocacy development network dedicated to equipping a pipeline of stakeholders to address the complex health issues facing African American families. iDREAM seeks to empower the next generation of leaders about the disparities in healthy birth outcomes.
Kindred Space L.A.
A hub for midwifery care, doula support, lactation consulting, education, support groups, enrichment, meditation, and movement.