By Domonique Brace | Perinatal Advocacy Coordinator
Sparrow Hospital and The Firecracker Foundation hosted a case review to improve birthing experiences and outcomes for BIPOC teen survivors.
In August 2022, a Black teen was admitted to the Birthplace at McLaren Hospital for a possible induction of labor. The medical staff charged with her care violated her Patient Rights and the nursing staff weaponized hospital security as a threat of criminalization and violence against the TFF Doula.
Statewide advocates working to improve maternal health outcomes came together for a press conference to spread awareness about the real-time experiences of Black teens seeking maternal healthcare at McLaren Hospital, demand policy changes, and discuss the importance of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and other legislation that aims to improve maternal and infant mortality rates for Black women and children.
Sparrow Hospital responded to TFF’s statewide call to action by offering to host a case review of the McLaren incident to help their staff prevent similar incidents from occurring during births. This key partnership further bolsters the hospital’s commitment to increased trauma-informed care, consent, and shared decision-making in the birth setting, and building healthy professional relationships between doulas and medical staff.
I am happy to share that more than 40 nurses attended the case review! We facilitated an in-depth discussion about the incident as well as ways that doulas and other birthworkers can collaborate with medical professionals to make hospital birthing safer, and inclusive, and uplift the wishes of birthing folks. TFF will have another opportunity in June for another case review with physicians.
Thank you to Tonyie Andrews-Johnson the Director of Women’s Services at Sparrow for inviting us and continuing the conversation.
Your donations make it possible for our team to provide full-spectrum doula services and advocate for the young people in our care through culture-shaping work.
While we are still hopeful that our client will receive a restorative response from McLaren Hospital, we are moving forward with those who are ready and receptive to improving birth equity for BIPOC youth in Ingham County and across the state.
In solidarity,
Domonique BracePALS CoordinatorPS - We are hosting a screening of the movie Birthing Justice on June 7th. Click here for more information or to reserve your seat.
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