Better Black and Brown Births (B4):
About the Project:
Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW) is leading Better Black and Brown Births (B4), a community-based, mixed-methods perinatal assessment focused on improving maternal health outcomes in Central Texas, particularly for Black and Brown birthing people and their families.
This assessment is rooted in the belief that community knowledge, lived experience, and culturally grounded birth work are essential to transforming maternal health systems. While Central Texas has a strong network of birth workers, healthcare providers, and community-based organizations, there is limited recent, community-centered data that captures how families actually experience pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care across systems.
B4 seeks to understand both the assets and gaps within the current perinatal landscape in order to strengthen coordination, improve access to holistic supports, and advance maternal health equity.
Why This Matters:
Black and Brown birthing people continue to experience disproportionately poor maternal and infant health outcomes due to systemic barriers, fragmented care, and underinvestment in community-based solutions. Clinical data alone does not tell the full story. This assessment builds on MSVW’s earlier community research efforts (2015) and responds to the urgent need for updated, community-driven insights that reflect today’s realities. The findings will help inform systems change, resource alignment, policy advocacy, and future investments in perinatal care.
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Improving The State of Maternal Health Care in Central TX: Building a Collaborative Perinatal Assessment to Strengthen Systems of Care
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Project Aims:
This assessment will:
- Identify perinatal support options available to Black and Brown birthing people and their families, centering trusted community-based resources
- Assess the connectivity, capacity, alignment, and gaps across agencies serving perinatal families
- Understand the full spectrum of holistic needs and desires of birthing people beyond clinical care
- Increase awareness of and access to community-centered data, including how information should be shared and by whom
- Identify education and awareness supports needed for families navigating pregnancy and postpartum
- Identify policy and advocacy priorities that can strengthen maternal health systems
- Examine funding, capacity, and workforce needs across agencies serving Black and Brown communities
- Develop actionable recommendations to improve coordination, strengthen systems of care, and advance maternal health outcomes
Project Team
Mama Sana Vibrant Woman (MSVW)
Community-rooted maternal health organization leading the assessment and convening partners.
Community Speaks Consulting (CSC)
A Black-woman-led boutique consulting firm dedicated to amplifying community voices through equitable research, engagement, and education.
Connxus – Central Texas Health Information Exchange
A regional data and interoperability organization supporting secure data sharing across healthcare, public health, and social services to enable coordinated, person-centered care.
Make an Impact with Us
Your participation is valuable, and we want your input.
This assessment is intended to be designed with the community, not just about the community.
If you would like to:
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Help inform the project's design
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Share your experiences navigating pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care
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Participate in listening sessions, surveys, interviews, or group discussions
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Stay informed about findings and opportunities to engage
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Make Your Voice Heard
By filling out the interest form below, and a member of the project team will follow up with next steps.
Opportunities to Contribute Your Voice:
Data collection will take place through a mix of in-person and virtual activities, including:
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Community listening sessions
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Focus groups
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One-on-one interviews
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Surveys
Provider and birth worker convenings
(Specific dates, locations, and formats will be shared as they are confirmed.)
Learn More:
📄 Download the B4 Project One-Pager
📊 Read MSVW’s 2015–2016 Community Report
Contact For questions or additional information, please contact:
Indya Hairston Community Speaks Consulting
📧 [communityspeaksconsulting@gmail.com]