title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK AND MINORITY HEALTH MONTH IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, the month of April is National Minority Health Month, a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities and highlight the importance of improving their health while reducing health disparities; and
WHEREAS, in solidarity with National Minority Health Month, the week of April 11-17 is Black Maternal Health Week in the United States, it is a week of awareness, activism, and community building intended to deepen the national conversation about Black maternal health in the U.S.; amplify community-driven policy, research, and care solutions; center the voices of Black Mamas, women, families, and stakeholders; provide a national platform for Black-led entities and efforts on maternal health, birth and reproductive justice; and enhance community organizing on Black maternal health; and
WHEREAS, this year’s theme for Black Maternal Health Week is “Rooted in Justice & Joy”, reflecting the strength and resilience of Black-led perinatal, maternal, and reproductive health organizations that have fostered change and healing across communities. It acknowledges the enduring legacies of systemic oppression, reproductive injustices, and health inequities that continue to impact Black mothers and birthing individuals; while advocating for a liberated future grounded in restoration, justice, and joy; and
WHEREAS, Black women in the United States face significantly poorer maternal health outcomes, characterized by disproportionately elevated rates of mortality associated with pregnancy or childbirth. Notably, they are three to four times more susceptible to experiencing a pregnancy-related death compared to white women; and
WHEREAS, the race of an individual should never be a determining factor in their health outcomes, and pregnancy and childbirth should be safe for all. However, for far too many Black women, safety and equity have been tragically denied due to generations of systemic disadvantages in healthcare delivery and access, including a lack of access to healthcare information and services, a lack of insurance coverage, denial of therapeutics, limited access to contraceptive services, and cultural biases and discrimination in medical practice and medical education; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2023-2024 Illinois Task Force on Infant and Maternal Mortality Among African Americans report, the crisis of non-Hispanic Black/African American infant and maternal mortality and morbidity in states, especially Illinois, mirrors the larger trends seen across the country; and
WHEREAS, in Illinois, Black women were twice as likely to die from any pregnancy-related condition and three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions as White women. Black women also had a severe maternal morbidity rate more than two times that of White women. This is more than two times the rate of non- Hispanic White women and significantly higher than Asian and Hispanic women; and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the 12-month ending provisional maternal mortality rates by race ending September 2025 are as follows: Hispanic or Latina 11.1 per 100,000 live births, White non-Hispanic 13.8 per 100,000 live births, Asian non-Hispanic 12.8 per 100,000 live births and Black non-Hispanic 43.8 per 100,000 live births; and
WHEREAS, both societal and health system factors contribute to the high rates of poor health outcomes and maternal mortality among Black women. These women are more likely to encounter barriers to accessing quality care and frequently face racial discrimination throughout their lives; and
WHEREAS, public policies and medical practice should incentivize providing patient-centered care that prioritizes the individualized needs of Black women, encompassing both clinical and non-clinical social requirements. Furthermore, policies should strive to eliminate cultural biases and discrimination in medical practice and medical education, enhance provider diversity in maternity care, and hold individual providers and hospital systems accountable if they fail to deliver unbiased, high-quality, evidence-based care; and
WHEREAS, the origin of National Minority Health Month was the 1915 establishment of National Negro Health Week by Booker T. Washington, and in 2002, National Minority Health Month received support from the U.S. Congress with a concurrent resolution; and
WHEREAS, African American and Latinx communities have historically faced inadequate healthcare treatment. National Minority Health Month serves as an opportunity to intensify our efforts in improving this system by actively listening to their concerns and working towards rebuilding the trust that has been eroded over generations of subpar treatment; and
WHEREAS, Black and African American individuals are disproportionately susceptible to certain preventable chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. Historically, Black and African American families have been deprived of accessible and dependable information regarding strategies to mitigate their risk for these diseases; and
WHEREAS, when patients are provided with culturally and linguistically appropriate information, they are empowered to create healthier outcomes for themselves and their communities; and
WHEREAS, this Honorable Body wishes to promote and raise awareness of National Minority Health Month and Black Maternal Health Week in Cook County and to honor the work done to improve health disparities in Cook County and Illinois;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the more than 5.2 million residents of Cook County, do hereby take this opportunity to acknowledge Black Maternal Health Week and National Minority Health Month; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in conjunction with these two important commemorations, that the week of April 11-17, 2026, be declared Black Maternal Health Week and the month of April 2026 be declared Minority Health Month in the County of Cook; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body.
end