Increasing Patient-Centered Engagement in Black Severe Maternal Morbidity Research
This roadmap outlines the strategies KBEN employs to engage community stakeholders in patient-centered maternal health research, ensuring that Black voices and experiences are central to birth equity initiatives.
Through its collaborative approach, the roadmap emphasizes the importance of accessible, honest, and understandable information that develop patient-centered and effective engagement of Black birthing persons and organizations focused on Black birthing. The map highlights shared values and experiences, offering a platform where participants can feel safe to contribute, learn, and grow.
At its core, the roadmap underscores the engagement approaches for engaging diverse populations, including Black patients, in patient-centered comparative effectiveness maternal and child health research, specifically severe maternal morbidity.
Collaborative approach
By engaging a diverse group of stakeholders - including community members, grassroots organizations, maternal and child health professionals, and organizations focused on Black birthing experiences - we embrace a collective approach that centers Black voices in patient-centered comparative effectiveness research. This approach dismantles silos and ensures that Black birthing persons and their lived experiences are essential in shaping solutions to address severe maternal morbidity and achieve birth equity.
The roadmap emphasizes shared values, equitable collaboration, and the creation of safe, inclusive platforms where participants feel empowered to contribute, learn, and grow. It also highlights the importance of accessible, transparent, and culturally relevant information to foster effective engagement and action. Core elements of this collective approach include:
- Centering Black Voices and Shared Decision-Making: Actively involving Black birthing persons and organizations in shaping the research process, ensuring their lived experiences are integral to decision-making.
- Equity-Driven Participation: Prioritizing the leadership and engagement of historically marginalized communities to address systemic disparities in maternal health and promote birth equity.
- Centering Grassroots Organizations: Amplifying the role of grassroots organizations as key drivers of change, recognizing their deep community ties and expertise in addressing maternal health disparities.
- Creating Safe Environments for Health Conversations: Fostering spaces where participants feel respected, valued, and safe to openly discuss health experiences and challenges without fear of dismissal or judgment.
- Establishing a Patient and Family Advisory Council: Creating a dedicated council to ensure ongoing input from patients and families, guiding research priorities, community capacity building, and events tailored to community needs.
- Mutual Accountability: Building trust through transparent communication, setting clear, shared goals, and fostering collective ownership of challenges and successes.
- Capacity Building and Leadership Empowerment: Providing education, resources, and skill development to support meaningful engagement and cultivate leadership within Black birthing communities.
Evening meetings are convenient for me!
KBEN prioritizes parents and community members when scheduling meetings. At the start of the network, parents identified weekday evenings as the best meeting times. Each year, we reevaluate and adjust as needed.
I'm able to join from anywhere!
Virtual meetings allow our members to more easily integrate the network into their lives. It is very common for members to join meetings from the sidelines of kid events or with their children or while making dinner!
Children are always welcome!
We are intentional about welcoming and engaging with children during our meetings. We pause to acknowledge little humans and we do not expect parents to be in distraction-free environments.
Accessible, Understandable, Honest Information
To effectively engage diverse stakeholders, including Black parents and communities, in patient-centered comparative effectiveness research on severe maternal morbidity, it is essential to ensure that all communication, resources, and events are rooted in accessibility, cultural relevance, and transparency. KBEN is committed to creating an inclusive environment by providing information that is accessible, understandable, and honest, ensuring it meets the needs of the communities we serve while respecting their lived experiences and priorities. Below are key pillars of this commitment:
- Accessible Information: KBEN ensures all content and events are designed with accessibility in mind, addressing barriers such as time constraints, language differences, and digital access. Materials are provided in user-friendly formats, and events are scheduled with flexibility to accommodate the realities of community members, including parents and caregivers. By creating opportunities that fit within participants' lives, we foster meaningful engagement and participation.
- Understandable Information: Clear, culturally relevant, and jargon-free communication is central to KBEN's approach. We ensure that research findings, engagement opportunities, and event details are presented in ways that resonate with Black parents and community members. This includes using relatable language, visuals, and examples to ensure all participants feel confident and informed in their participation.
- Honest Information: Transparency and trust are foundational to KBEN's work. We are committed to providing accurate, honest information that prioritizes community needs and highlights the collective goals of reducing severe maternal morbidity and achieving birth equity. Openly sharing the purpose, process, and outcomes of research ensures that participants feel respected and valued in their contributions.
Through these pillars - accessible, understandable, and honest information - KBEN fosters trust, supports equitable participation, and creates an inclusive foundation for collaborative research that centers the voices of Black parents and communities.
I Want to Help Others!
KBEN empowers members to uplift their communities by sharing resources, insights, and support. Members take pride in helping others navigate maternal health challenges and contributing to a network that prioritizes collaboration and care.
Like-minded, Passionate Activists for Change
Engaging like-minded, passionate activists for change is central to advancing patient-centered comparative effectiveness research on severe maternal morbidity. KBEN brings together individuals and organizations committed to supporting Black families, creating a dynamic and empowering space where passion and purpose align. This collective energy fosters collaboration, amplifies impact, and ensures that the voices of Black parents and community stakeholders are at the forefront of efforts to achieve birth equity.
- A Community of Shared Commitment: KBEN cultivates a space where members connect with others who share a deep passion for improving the lives of Black families and addressing disparities in maternal health. This sense of shared purpose inspires collective action and sustains momentum in the pursuit of birth equity.
- Supportive Collaboration: The network provides an environment where members can exchange ideas, share best practices, and collaborate on innovative solutions. By surrounding participants with like-minded advocates, KBEN strengthens the sense of community and reinforces the belief that meaningful change is achievable through collective effort.
- Empowering Black Voices: At the heart of this space is the unwavering commitment to centering Black voices and lived experiences. Members work together to uplift Black parents and families, ensuring their needs, insights, and priorities drive research and engagement activities.
- Fostering Passion for Equity: The network's shared mission attracts individuals and organizations motivated by a desire to create systemic change. This shared passion not only fuels individual contributions but also unites the group in its dedication to improving outcomes for Black birthing people.
By bringing together passionate, like-minded activists, KBEN creates a vibrant and supportive space that empowers members to collaborate, innovate, and lead efforts to address severe maternal morbidity and achieve equity in maternal health.
Opens the door for new opportunities
Opening the door to new opportunities is a cornerstone of KBEN's approach to patient-centered comparative effectiveness research on severe maternal morbidity. By fostering connections and maintaining open lines of communication with organizations and individuals dedicated to supporting Black families, KBEN creates pathways for collaboration, resource-sharing, and innovation. This interconnected network empowers members to consolidate efforts and pursue initiatives that drive meaningful and lasting change in maternal health outcomes.
- Building Bridges Across Organizations: KBEN actively connects members with a diverse range of organizations and stakeholders committed to improving maternal health and supporting Black families. These relationships enable members to share resources, ideas, and expertise, breaking down silos and fostering statewide and local collaborations.
- Consolidating Efforts for Greater Impact: Through coordinated efforts, members can align strategies, pool resources, and focus collective energy on shared goals. This approach minimizes duplication, maximizes impact, and ensures that initiatives are grounded in community needs and priorities.
- Creating Pathways for Innovation: By maintaining active communication and collaboration, the network creates an environment where new ideas and initiatives can emerge. Members are encouraged to co-develop projects, pilot programs, and research efforts that reflect the lived experiences of Black parents and address disparities in maternal health.
- Empowering Stakeholder Collaboration: The network's inclusive approach ensures that all voices - Black parents, healthcare professionals, community organizations, and researchers - are actively engaged. This opens doors for partnerships that leverage diverse perspectives and expertise to address the complexities of severe maternal morbidity and advance birth equity.
- Statewide and Local Impact: With connections across the state and metro area, KBEN facilitates opportunities for members to engage in both broad systemic initiatives and hyperlocal efforts, ensuring that the network's reach is both expansive and deeply rooted in the communities it serves.
By creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation, KBEN strengthens the collective capacity of its members to address severe maternal morbidity and support Black families in achieving equitable and healthy birth outcomes.
Safe Space to Share
Creating a safe space for dialogue and collaboration is essential to engaging diverse stakeholders, including Black parents, in patient-centered comparative effectiveness research on severe maternal morbidity. KBEN is committed to fostering an environment where participants feel valued, respected, and empowered to share their perspectives. By prioritizing cultural awareness, trust-building, and affirmation of individual experiences, we create a foundation for meaningful engagement and collaboration.
- Cultural Awareness and Recognition: KBEN acknowledges and respects the cultural intricacies of its members, ensuring that every individual feels seen and heard. This includes recognizing the unique challenges and lived experiences of Black parents and other diverse stakeholders, fostering an inclusive space where all voices are appreciated and celebrated.
- Trust-Building: Trust is at the heart of KBEN's engagement approach. By establishing open and transparent communication and creating opportunities for participants to connect with one another and with staff, we foster relationships grounded in mutual respect and care. Trust-building allows members to feel secure in sharing their honest thoughts and experiences.
- Affirming Individual Experiences: KBEN affirms the value of lived experiences by acknowledging each member's unique journey and perspective. This includes ensuring that personal narratives are respected and integrated into research and decision-making processes. Recognizing the power of individual stories helps create a sense of belonging and purpose among participants.
- Welcoming and Informal Atmosphere: Each meeting begins with intentional practices that emphasize connection and care. Members are welcomed and acknowledged, and time is taken for personal check-ins before proceeding with the agenda. This approach cultivates a relaxed and supportive environment, reinforcing KBEN's commitment to centering genuine care and fostering meaningful connections.
By creating these safe spaces, KBEN empowers members to share openly, collaborate effectively, and contribute to the development of patient-centered solutions that address severe maternal morbidity and advance birth equity.
I feel like I'm making a difference
KBEN is more than a network - it's a community that empowers members to grow, lead, and create meaningful change. By offering opportunities to contribute to birth equity-focused initiatives, KBEN provides a platform where Black parents and diverse stakeholders feel like they are making a difference. Members are not only shaping the future of maternal health but also creating a world where Black families are cared for and valued. Through collective action, awareness, advocacy, and accountability, KBEN transforms passion into impact.
- Building a Vision for the Future: Members are encouraged to envision and contribute to a maternal health system that prioritizes the needs, experiences, and outcomes of Black birthing families. Through collaborative efforts, members help lay the foundation for sustainable and equitable change.
- Empowered by Purpose: KBEN fosters a sense of purpose by creating opportunities for members to connect their personal values and lived experiences to broader efforts for birth equity. This alignment of passion and action enables members to see the tangible impact of their contributions.
KBEN Encourages Me to Grow!
KBEN is dedicated to empowering its members to grow as leaders, innovators, and advocates for Black birthing families. By providing opportunities to build capacity, develop skills, and take on leadership roles, KBEN ensures that stakeholders, including Black parents and community members, are actively engaged in designing and implementing programs that address severe maternal morbidity and advance birth equity. This focus on personal and professional growth strengthens the network and drives impactful, community-centered solutions.
- Capacity Building for Community Impact: KBEN equips members with the tools, training, and resources needed to design, implement, and sustain programs that support Black birthing families. Whether through workshops, mentorship, or skill-building sessions, the network empowers members to take action in their communities with confidence and effectiveness.
- Opportunities to Co-Lead Initiatives: Members have the chance to co-lead KBEN's initiatives, providing them with hands-on experience in collaborative leadership. These opportunities allow members to shape the direction of the network, contribute to decision-making, and implement projects that reflect the needs and priorities of Black birthing families.
- Fostering Leadership and Advocacy: KBEN nurtures leadership among its members, particularly those with lived experience, by encouraging them to take on advocacy roles within their communities and beyond. This approach ensures that the voices of Black parents and stakeholders are heard at every level of decision-making and research.
- Creating a Supportive Environment for Growth: The network prioritizes creating a safe and supportive space where members feel encouraged to take risks, explore new ideas, and grow as leaders. KBEN celebrates the successes of its members and provides ongoing support to help them achieve their goals.
- Collaborative Learning and Development: Members learn from one another through shared experiences, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone grows together. This culture of mutual support ensures that each individual's growth contributes to the strength and success of the entire network.
By offering opportunities for capacity building, leadership, and collaboration, KBEN empowers its members to grow as changemakers, amplifying their impact on reducing severe maternal morbidity and achieving birth equity for Black families.
Commitment to Awareness, Advocacy, and Accountability
KBEN is dedicated to raising awareness of maternal health disparities, advocating for systemic change, and ensuring accountability to Black families and communities. Members are united in their shared commitment to advancing equity through action and advocacy.
I Believe in KBEN's Mission
At the heart of KBEN is its mission to center Black families in maternal health solutions. Members deeply believe in this vision and are motivated to drive meaningful change through research, healthcare innovation, and advocacy efforts that reflect the values of equity and justice.
KBEN supports projects in my community
KBEN is deeply committed to supporting and amplifying community-based projects and initiatives that prioritize the voices and experiences of Black parents and diverse stakeholders. By fostering strong relationships with community members, KBEN reinforces the importance of community input in shaping patient-centered comparative effectiveness research on severe maternal morbidity. This intentional focus ensures that research efforts are grounded in real-world experiences and that community-led solutions are empowered and sustained.
- Active Community Engagement: KBEN staff are not just advocates but active participants in the communities they serve. By being present and engaged, they build trust and demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing the unique needs of Black families and other community stakeholders.
- Amplifying Community-Based Initiatives: KBEN intentionally identifies and amplifies grassroots projects and initiatives that align with the goal of reducing severe maternal morbidity and advancing birth equity. This support ensures that local efforts receive the visibility and resources they need to succeed and grow.
- Building Meaningful Relationships: Developing strong, authentic relationships with community members is a cornerstone of KBEN's approach. These relationships reinforce the value of community input and create a collaborative environment where stakeholders feel empowered to contribute to research and advocacy efforts.
- Prioritizing Community-Led Solutions: KBEN recognizes the expertise within communities and prioritizes initiatives that are led by those with lived experience. By supporting community-driven projects, the network ensures that solutions are culturally relevant, sustainable, and impactful.
- Creating Synergy Between Research and Community Action: KBEN bridges the gap between research and community action by integrating local initiatives into broader research priorities. This alignment allows community-based projects to inform research while ensuring research outcomes directly benefit the community.
By supporting projects in the community and prioritizing relationships, KBEN fosters collaboration, uplifts local leadership, and ensures that research efforts are rooted in the real-world experiences and needs of Black families and diverse stakeholders.
Shared Research Agenda
A shared research agenda is a critical tool for aligning efforts, fostering accountability, and ensuring that the priorities of Black parents and diverse stakeholders are at the forefront of patient-centered comparative effectiveness research on severe maternal morbidity. By collaboratively defining and committing to common goals, KBEN creates a unified approach that reflects community needs and drives impactful change in maternal health outcomes.
- Aligning on Priority Areas: The shared research agenda establishes consensus among network members on the most urgent and impactful areas to address in severe maternal morbidity. It is informed by the voices of Black parents, healthcare professionals, researchers, and community organizations, ensuring the agenda reflects the lived experiences and needs of those most affected.
- Fostering Accountability: By clearly defining goals and priorities, the shared research agenda holds the network accountable to its mission. It serves as a guidepost for measuring progress, evaluating outcomes, and ensuring that resources and efforts remain focused on advancing birth equity.
- Driving Collaboration: The agenda promotes unity among members by providing a shared framework for collaboration. This encourages joint efforts, co-created solutions, and collective ownership of the research process, ensuring that all stakeholders are actively engaged in achieving the network's objectives.
- Centering Community Voices: At its core, the agenda is designed to center the voices of Black parents and communities. It prioritizes research areas that address systemic inequities, uplift lived experiences, and directly contribute to reducing disparities in maternal health outcomes.
- Adapting to Evolving Needs: The shared research agenda is a dynamic tool that evolves as new insights emerge and priorities shift. This adaptability ensures that the network remains responsive to changing community needs and continues to address the most pressing challenges in maternal health.
By creating and adhering to a shared research agenda, KBEN ensures that all stakeholders are working collaboratively and intentionally toward the shared goal of improving birth outcomes for Black families and advancing equity in maternal health.