In November, EverThrive IL hosted a half-day Birth Equity Conference in collaboration with the Blue Door Neighborhood Center in Morgan Park. Blue Cross Blue Shield opened the Blue Door Neighborhood Centers to improve community health through education, activities, and resources.
The opening remarks were led by Chi Chi Okwu, EverThrive IL’s Executive Director, and Nicaya Rapier, Manager of Health Education at the Blue Door Neighborhood Center. Afterward, Monica McKelphin, a Family Council member, gave a personal story highlighting the social determinants of health during pregnancy. Monica said that the care she received during her pregnancy from doctors differed when she went from private to public insurance, which is a clear indication of the biases within the healthcare system.
The program moved into the first panel led by Kelly Hubbard, Policy & Advocacy Director at EverThrive IL. It focused on education and legislation that addresses the social drivers of health. On this panel were leaders from advocacy organizations that work to pass legislation that focuses on the health needs of pregnant and parenting people, including nutrition, housing, diaper insecurity, and paid family leave. The panelists were Laura O’Carroll, CDPH; Lauren Sayah, UIC; Beth Kenefick, Greater Chicago Food Depository; Allison Lowe-Fotos, Start Early; and Niya Kelly, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
Elizabeth Gonzalez, our Associate Director of Birth Equity, led the second panel. It consisted of leaders from health care and community-based organizations who gave their perspectives on the health needs of patients and clients and highlighted what providers need to better meet the housing, food, transportation, and essential baby item needs. The panelists were Dr. Dona Perry, BCBS; MeKazin Alexander, Ba Nia; Velma Walker, Catholic Charities; and Jose Ortiz, FIMR.
The information given at this conference tackled a topic within health care that is often overlooked: it’s not always medical situations that impact health outcomes. “We know that health care doesn’t just begin when you walk into a doctor’s office,” says Chi Chi. “It is impacted by your environment, where you lay your head at night, whether you have healthy food to put on the table daily, and whether you have access to reliable transportation. Housing, transportation, food security, and access to childcare impact the wellbeing of all people, especially pregnant and postpartum people and their families.”