Foundation Donors Help Improve Black Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes at BJC Community Baby Shower

BJC at the Commons was transformed into a baby wonderland April 13 for the second annual BJC HealthCare Community Baby Shower. Hundreds of new and expectant families enjoyed a sunny spring day immersed in celebration and education.  

The free event, made possible thanks to generous donors to The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, was hosted by Barnes-Jewish Hospital in partnership with community partners including St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, City of St. Louis Department of Health, and community-based doulas.  

Throughout the event, families took part in health screenings and educational classes on topics such infant CPR, safe sleep, and prenatal yoga, all at no cost. They also enjoyed a bubble bonanza, music, games, raffle prizes, healthy meals made by North Sarah Food Hub, ice cream from Operation Polar Cops (a service provided by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department), cookies from Chocolate Girls' Cookies, as well as other delicious goodies. The grand prize raffle drawing was for complimentary doula services, provided by Midwest Doula Fund. 

More than 50 community organizations, including Parents as Teachers, participated in the baby shower to support new and expectant families. St. Louis Diaper Bank provided diapers to each family. Families could learn about doula services, midwifery care, early education opportunities and more.  

Thanks to generous donors to the Foundation—including lead philanthropic partners Healthy Blue Missouri and Elevance Health, Home State Health Plan Inc., and United Healthcare Community Plan—the Community Baby Shower impacted hundreds of neighbors and birth families. In addition, with support from the BJC Women’s Connection Group, The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital sponsored a tent where attendees drew prizes for a variety of free items including onesies, diapers, wipes, baby bottles, safety locks, and other essentials. Four lucky families also received a stroller through the drawing. 

“This baby shower was created as a response to a great need in the community for resources and support,” says Calencia Mitchell, manager of BJC HealthCare’s Community Health Improvement. “New moms need information, but also diapers, clothes, and other resources. The baby shower is a celebration, and it lets folks know that BJC is here and we support our community. It’s about uplifting the community and helping people get connected where the need presents itself.”  

The community baby shower was initiated by Barnes-Jewish Hospital Women and Infants Services, led by Lashanda Jackson, MSN, RN, the women's health educator and outreach coordinator at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.  

“We love the opportunity to partner with community organizations to provide families in critical need areas with education and resources to support them on their pregnancy and parenting journey,” she says. “That’s what our BJC Community Baby Shower is all about—meeting the needs of families, strengthening community relationships, and centering the vision of reducing health disparities together. We do these things not just to make an impact in the lives of BJC patients, but also to improve the health of our community.”  

In Missouri, the maternal mortality rate is the third highest in the nation, and Black women experience health disparities at a greater rate than white women. BJC HealthCare, with generous support from donors to the Foundation, is working to end this disparate cycle and improve maternal health outcomes. 

“This Community Baby Shower is one of many activities we are collaborating on to change the trajectory of infant and maternal mortality rates and improve Black infant and maternal health outcomes,” explains Derek May, community health philanthropy manager at the Foundation. “We are working with families and community organizations to co-design solutions, including becoming a more doula-friendly health care system. We couldn’t take on these initiatives without the generous support of those partners today and our year-round donors.” 

Partnering for Collective Impact on Black Maternal Health 

BJC Community Health Improvement is a systemwide effort to give all people the opportunity for a healthy, productive life by focusing on the social and economic factors that are the root causes of health inequities. 

The BJC Community Baby Shower was part of a collective impact and collaboration during Black Maternal Health Week, April 11-17th. The recognition week, led nationally by Black Mamas Matter Alliance, raises awareness, inspires activism, and strengthens organizing to change the trajectory of Black maternal and infant health. 

Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing hosted the “Centering Joy in the Black Birthing Experience Conference” April 12-13, organized by the Black Nurses Association of Greater St. Louis, the National Black Nurses Association, and the St. Louis Integrated Health Network. The conference welcomed community stakeholders, community members, and nurses from across all health systems in St. Louis.  

Another BJC initiative to recognize Black Maternal Health Week was a diaper drive at the St. Louis Blues game April 12 to benefit the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, a community-driven organization that supports under-resourced families. In addition, the Foundation supported a community discussion around the systemic lack of resources and comprehensive pregnancy counseling for pregnant adolescents. 

Lastly, on April 17 Barnes-Jewish Hospital Women & Infants and Washington University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology partnered to welcome a keynote speaker and community panel to the medical center campus. This event, also made possible by generous donations to the Foundation, was a continuing education opportunity for multidisciplinary health care providers and teams focused on mitigating for implicit bias and honoring the fullness of respectful maternity care.   

“Improving infant and maternal health disparities in our region requires both external and internal work for health care teams,” Jackson adds. “This work is not always easy, but we are committed to it.”   

To learn how you can help improve community health and reduce health disparities, please contact Derek May at [email protected] or 314-273-6233. You can also make a gift today to support Black maternal and infant health in our region. 

Written by Joyce Romine