Health Equity Institute for Healthy Pregnancy, Children and Families (HEI)

Helping Families Facing Health Disparities Thrive

The Health Equity Institute for Healthy Pregnancy, Children and Families (HEI) is focused on improving health outcomes for parents, children and people who are pregnant — especially those facing health inequities — through advancing research and fostering advocacy led by local community-based organizations.

A collaboration between Seattle Children’s and UW Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the HEI envisions a future where parents, children and pregnant people — regardless of their race, ethnicity or economic status — can flourish and have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. For families to thrive, health inequities must be overcome and systemic obstacles to health must be removed.

The HEI, launched in 2024, aims to collaborate with community-based organizations that serve systemically underserved communities. The purpose of these community collaborations is to explore the health needs of children, parents and people who are pregnant, and ultimately design and implement long-term, “upstream” solutions and interventions that:

1. Have profound positive impacts on health outcomes
2. Can potentially be replicated and scaled in other communities
3. Develop community capacity to share knowledge, mobilize resources and influence policy and practice

The HEI strives to engage community voices ensuring parents, their children, and their closest allies help identify the most impactful and sustainable HEI projects. Together, Seattle Children’s, UW Medicine and collaborators, can create a healthy community where parents, children and pregnant people —regardless of their race, ethnicity or economic status — can flourish and have a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

Interested in working with us on a research project?

Contact Leon Garnett, director, Community Partnerships and Operations, Health Equity Institute for Healthy Pregnancy, Children and Families, Seattle Children's, at leon.garnett@seattlechildrens.org or 206-659-5110.

Learn about becoming an affiliate member of the HEI

Current Research Projects

The Collective: A Community-Engaged Doula Program Pilot

• Community Partners: BLKBRY, Global Perinatal Services, Open Arms Perinatal Services
• Grantor: Cambia Health Foundation
• Research Project Dates: January 2024 – May 2025

Overview

The Health Equity Institute for Healthy Pregnancy, Children and Families is partnering with organizations in the Puget Sound area that provide birth and postpartum doula services on a pilot program designed to better understand how to recruit, train and retain doulas from the Black community.

The pilot program is focused on developing and implementing a community-engaged doula program called “The Collective” to provide no-cost culturally concordant doula care for Black birthing patients at UW Medical Center –Montlake. Doula services are being provided by BLKBRY, Global Perinatal Services and Open Arms Perinatal Services. Parents and infants are being followed throughout the pilot, with the goal of better understanding the overall impact of these doula services on health outcomes of parents and infants.

Background

Research shows that doulas can significantly improve health outcomes for pregnant people and their infants. They can provide a range of services that include health education; family and emotional support; advocacy; and assistance with navigating health care and social services. Community-based doulas, who provide culturally appropriate support and are trusted community members, can be especially important for families from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups.

Expected outcomes

It is anticipated that the pilot program will lead to the diversification of the doula workforce; the creation of a broader network of community-based doulas; and promote the sustainability and equity of the local Black birth workforce. This can lead to improved health outcomes, particularly for new Black parents and infants, a community currently experiencing higher rates of maternal mortality.

Learn more

For more information, visit The Collective's website.

HEI Team

• Barbara Goff, MD, HEI co-lead
• Eric Tham, MD, HEI co-lead
• Leslie Walker-Harding, MD, HEI co-lead
• Leon Garnett, director, Community Partnerships and Operations, HEI
• Jim Jarvis, MD, HEI tribal liaison and advisor
• Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD, HEI scientific advisor