Evara Health, a recipient of a $2 million grant from a $65 million HHS funding initiative, aims to reduce black maternal health disparities in Florida. The funding supports innovative approaches to address the significant gaps in quality of care, chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias that contribute to these disparities. The Biden-Harris administration remains committed to prioritizing black maternal health outcomes and has granted over $20 million in funding to further this cause.
Evara Health, a Florida-based organization, has been awarded a $2 million grant as part of a $65 million funding initiative by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This funding aims to address the disparities in black maternal health by supporting innovative approaches in underserved communities.
The HHS funding, administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Maternal Health Blueprint, which seeks to enhance maternal health outcomes in underserved communities. With 35 recipients in total, Evara Health joins the effort to reduce black maternal health disparities.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra expressed the administration’s commitment to tackling the maternal health crisis, stating, “This support for HRSA-funded health centers will help ensure a healthier pregnancy and postpartum outcomes for all and help address health disparities among women of color and women in rural and medically underserved areas.”
The grant received by Evara Health will contribute to its ongoing efforts to improve the lives of individuals in Tampa Bay. Florida US Representative Kathy Castor commended the organization’s work in confronting racial disparities in maternal care and expressed gratitude for the significant funding that will support their innovative initiatives.
The significance of maternal health disparities has gained greater attention in recent years, particularly after a 2019 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted the stark racial disparities. The report revealed that black women face a threefold higher risk of pregnancy-related complications leading to death compared to white women. Factors contributing to this disparity include gaps in quality of care, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias.
Acknowledging these disparities, the Biden-Harris administration remains committed to prioritizing black maternal health outcomes. In addition to the current funding, HHS granted over $20 million to nine recipients through its State Maternal Health Innovation Program in September of the previous year. This demonstrates the administration’s dedication to equity and reducing maternal and infant health disparities.
The grant recipients, including Evara Health, are motivated by firsthand experiences and a strong desire to address the racial inequities in maternal health. Public health practitioner Deanna Wathington shared her own story, emphasizing the higher risk faced by black women regardless of their education level. She expressed gratitude for the ongoing work to improve these outcomes and ensure the well-being of mothers and children.
The money granted by HRSA will assist in improving maternal health outcomes and reduce inequities for those most at risk by using cutting-edge strategies and focused interventions. Its dedication to solving the maternal health problem demonstrates the administration’s resolve to develop significant solutions and offer the assistance and resources required for families to live healthy lives.
