2021 Seed Award Project Updates

The UCLA Community Birth Project brought together UCLA and Diversity Uplifts, a local nonprofit organization, to improve perinatal and postpartum care experiences for Black birthing people and their families. Guided by community engagement and patient voice, the project sought to better understand feelings of safety, support, and trust in the healthcare system while identifying opportunities to improve care and health education.

Through ten focus groups, Black women and families shared their experiences, insights, and recommendations for creating more respectful and responsive care environments. Community partners played a central role in shaping and leading the work, ensuring that the project remained grounded in lived experience. Findings informed the development of a Respectful Model of Care and supported educational and quality improvement initiatives across the perinatal care continuum, helping healthcare organizations better meet the needs of Black families.