Improving Access to Pre- And Post-Natal Care Appointments for Black Women in Cumberland County

Maternal and infant health outcomes are critical indicators of population health that reflect broader structural challenges. In Cumberland County, outcomes for Black mothers and infants are discouraging. Infant mortality and severe maternal morbidity rates exceed state averages, and Black infants have a two times higher mortality rate than white infants in the county (Cumberland County Department of Public Health CCDPH, 2024; North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 2024; March of Dimes, 2024). These disparities led CCDPH to identify maternal and infant health as a priority need in the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment (CCDPH, 2024).  This proposal outlines a systems-level approach to improve access to pre- and post-natal care appointments for Black women in Cumberland County. Guided by the Vital Conditions for Health and Well-being, this proposal suggests a coordinated engagement model involving a community coalition, evidence-based co-design methods, and priority partnership with CCDPH.