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Commissioners recognize Black Maternal Health Week as county leaders and public-health staff cite high mortality rates
Summary
A commissioner presented a resolution acknowledging Black Maternal Health Week and highlighted Harris County's disproportionately high Black maternal mortality rate—cited in the meeting as roughly 83 deaths per 100,000 live births—while public-health managers outlined programs serving hundreds of families.
The Commissioners Court recognized Black Maternal Health Week after a commissioner noted that Harris County has the nation’s highest Black maternal mortality rate, cited in remarks as "approximately 83 deaths per 100,000 live births." The presenter said this statistic is unacceptable and outlined county efforts, including Harris County Public Health’s maternal and child health program, mobile clinics and partnerships with Baylor College of Medicine and Harris Health.
Lariana Bernardo, maternal and child health program manager at Harris County Public Health, told the court the program reached a milestone of supporting 500 families and described initiatives including a maternal home bill of rights, a Texas children’s safe-sleep program, a car-seat distribution and safety effort with local fire departments and the MOMRx preeclampsia risk-reduction program. "We are committed to fostering a healthier future for all families in Harris County," Bernardo said.
Michelle Robinson, Healthy Start program manager, said the program reached over 700 families in its first year in Harris County Public Health and emphasized the programs’ impacts on mothers, infants and fathers. A public commenter thanked the commissioner for the resolution but asked that language be inclusive of people with disabilities.
