Rep. Brent Celebrates Maternal Health Awareness Day & First Year Cleveland Maternal Health Grant

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Juanita O. Brent (D-Cleveland) today is proud to celebrate January 23rd as Maternal Health Awareness Day and announce a $10M grant award to First Year Cleveland to support pregnant women and infants.

“Every mother deserves a healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience,” said Rep. Brent. “This investment in prenatal and infant care strengthens families and builds a healthier Cleveland. Ohio has made progress, but there is still work to do. Unacceptable disparities in Black maternal health remain, and meaningful change will take all of us working together.

Grant funding will enable First Cleveland to:

• Expand prenatal and parenting education;
• Increase access to health screenings and nutritional support;
• Provide essential supplies for mothers and infants; and 
• Strengthen partnerships for comprehensive community care.

Maternal Health Awareness Day facts:

• 66% of pregnancy related deaths were preventable
• Black women are 1.5x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women
• Infection was the leading cause of death for Black women (44%)
• Mental health conditions were the leading cause for white women (29%)

EDITOR’s NOTE: A picture of Rep. Brent and First Year Cleveland Executive Director Angela Newman-White is attached to this press release. Courtesy: Rep. Brent’s office.