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Birth Equity (BE)

In 2021, the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ILPQC) launched the Birth Equity (BE) initiative. This initiative was selected by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Statewide Quality Council (SQC) and Perinatal Advisory Committee to engage hospital teams in implementing strategies that advance birth equity. Birth equity is defined as the assurance of the conditions for optimal birth outcomes for all people, grounded in a sustained commitment to confronting racial and social inequities.

View Webinars and Birth Equity Toolkit
View Birth Equity One Pager

3x

Non-Hispanic Black women are about 3 times more likely than non-Hispanic white women to die during or within a year of pregnancy from a related complication.

2-3x

Compared to non-Hispanic white women, all other racial and ethnic groups have higher rates of severe complications during pregnancy and in the year postpartum.

Key Opportunities:

1. Implementation of universal social determinants of health screening prenatally and during delivery admission with linkage to appropriate resources and services

2. Review maternal health quality data stratified by race, ethnicity and Medicaid status to identify disparities and address opportunities for improvement

3. Take steps to engage patients and/or community members to provide input on QI efforts

4. Implement a strategy for sharing expected respectful care practices during delivery admission; and survey patients before discharge on their care experience (using the PREM tool) to provide feedback

5. Standardize system to provide patient education prior to hospital discharge on postpartum safety including urgent maternal warning signs and tools to improve communication with providers

6.Implement education for providers and staff on the importance of listening to patients, providing respectful care and addressing implicit bias and provide opportunities for discussion and feedback

Birth Equity Clinical Leadership
  • Ann Borders
  • Barrett Robinson
  • Daniell Ashford
  • Emily White VanGompel
  • Jamila Pleas
  • Kai Tao
  • Robin Jones
Webinars and Resources

Our goal is to keep you informed and equipped with evidence-based resources that advance maternal and infant health. We invite you to explore our updates and share in the work of improving outcomes for all families.

Stay engaged. Stay informed. Together, we make care better.

View Webinars and Birth Equity Toolkit