April is National Minority Health Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minority communities and reducing health disparities—core to bi3’s mission. This month, we also celebrated Black Maternal Health Week with multiple bi3-fueled events hosted locally to celebrate mothers in our community.
bi3-funded MamaCertified is working to provide information Black mothers need to make informed decisions about their birthing hospital. As Kiana Trabue, bi3 Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Chief Program Officer, said in a Groundwork Ohio article: “Mama Certified is bringing competing health systems together, helping to build trust and transparency in the community by inspiring birthing health systems to work together. Mama Certified has the potential to put Greater Cincinnati at the forefront of positive maternal and infant health outcomes.”
As we shine a light on minority and Black maternal health, our congratulations go out to Bethesda North! U.S. News and World Report recognized the hospital as one of just 26 hospitals nationwide for achieving excellent outcomes for C-sections and unexpected newborn complications among Black parents. Bethesda North was the only hospital in Cincinnati and one of only two hospitals in Ohio to receive this recognition. Bethesda North and Good Samaritan Hospitals also both earned “Leader” certification from MamaCertified for their maternal care.
Following a 2023 Butler County needs assessment with our strategic partner TriHealth, we are currently inviting proposals to address community health equity. This month’s newsletter includes details about the Building Health Equity in Butler County RFP.
While Minority Health Month may be observed once a year, bi3 is proud to promote racial and health equity and drive innovation by investing in trust-based partnerships every day.
Jill Miller
President & CEO, bi3
bi3 News + Partner Updates
bi3 Funding Opportunity
In 2023, bi3 and its strategic partner, TriHealth, engaged Scale Strategic Solutions in conducting a health and healthcare needs assessment and developing an equity-focused action plan to address identified health needs in Butler County, Ohio. As a result, bi3 will award grants to local nonprofit organizations ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 over two to three years, with a total investment of up to $2 million.
We invite proposals for initiatives that increase access to health services and resources, improve health outcomes, and reduce health disparities in one of the following funding priorities: Maternal and Infant Vitality, Mental Health, and Chronic Health Conditions (cancer, type 2 diabetes and hypertension).
The deadline to submit the Letter of Intent is May 20, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Click below for more information about this funding opportunity, including priority populations.
bi3 partners celebrate Black Maternal Health Week
bi3 awarded $55,000 in funding to 11 local organizations to support events during Black Maternal Health Week, held annually from April 11-17. Thank you to our partners who planned such unique events celebrating Black mothers. We are so grateful to all those who join us on the path toward improving and advancing Black maternal health.
Queens Village seeking Black birth workers to design mutual aid fund
Queens Village is inviting Black Birth Workers to join a Community Advisory Board to collaborate on establishing the goals, structure, and governance of a mutual aid fund geared towards supporting Black Birth Workers. Queens Village values the input of Black Birth Workers in our community and seeks to create a fund that reflects their perspectives and needs. Board members will be asked to make an introductory commitment of 6 months and paid $50 per meeting.
Grantee Spotlight: CHNK
A bi3 grant to CHNK Behavioral Health (formerly Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky Behavioral Health) supported their Expanding Mental Health Services in a Pandemic Climate Campaign. The funds contributed to the expansion of CHNK’s mental health and family preservation services by 55%. CHNK currently partners with local school districts with increasing demand and is pursuing public-private funding partnerships to support the initiative. CHNK Chief Executive Officer Rick Wurth shared the impact of the bi3 partnership.
For more updates on the work of bi3 and our funded partners, be sure to follow us on social media!
