The California Birth Equity Collaborative is approaching this work with an evolving practice of cultural humility as we partner with hospitals and their local communities, to advance a culture of birth equity and respectful and dignified birth care.
The California Birth Equity Collaborative has adopted the Women’s Health Organization definition of respectful maternity care – which refers to care organized for and provided to all women in a manner that maintains their dignity, privacy and confidentiality, ensures freedom from harm and mistreatment, and enables informed choice and continuous support during labor and childbirth, regardless of their race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, sexuality, age, disability, HIV status, immigration status, housing status, income or insurance status and type.
Together with our partners, the California Birth Equity Collaborative prioritizes the voices, knowledge, and lived experiences of Black mothers and birthing people to develop and implement tools that advance respectful and dignified care, trusting relationships, responsive listening, and shared decision-making between Black birthing people, hospitals and the community.