Presentation Time: 10:15-10:35
Home University: North Carolina Central University
Research Mentor: Iheoma Iruka, Leslie deRosset, Equity Research Action Coalition
Program: McKinney Scholars Program
Research Title: Equitable Policies That Positively Impact Black Families and Children Prenatal-to-3
COVID-19 and the racial reckoning over the last 24 months has brought attention to structural racism and system inequities faced by Black people in the United States. Black children and families’ optimal development are being threatened on a daily basis, visible with the racial disparities in health, income, and education. The objective of this presentation is to examine policies that support the health and development of Black children and families, especially mothers and their babies. Through the lens of social determinants of health and racial disparities, this presentation will connect the complex factors that link race, social context, and policy. This presentation identifies prenatal-to-3 policies that demonstrate effectiveness at creating the conditions in which Black families and their children can thrive. This presentation will highlight the following policies: Prenatal Health and Emotional Well Being, Healthy and Equitable Births, Sufficient Household Resources, Nurturing and Responsive Child-Parent Relationships, and Nurturing and Responsive Child Care in Safe Setting. This presentation will illuminate some of the disparities that effective policies are seeking to mitigate to ensure a healthy future for Black families and children.