Maternal and Child Health

In the 1920s, New York Academy of Medicine was already confronting the devastating toll of maternal mortality, at a time when thousands of children died before age one in NYC. Our advocacy led to the creation of public health infrastructure that became a national model. New York Academy of Medicine continues to bridge health disparities and break down barriers to help parents, newborns and youth to live a healthy, long life.

Our Century-Long Fight for Maternal and Child Health Equity in New York

We can reduce maternal deaths and childhood illness rates. They often reflect systemic challenges in access, support, and equitable care that demand our collective action. These stark disparities in health outcomes reveal an urgent need for our unwavering commitment to accessible, responsive care for all.

4.5 Times Higher
The U.S. leads high-income countries in maternal mortality. Black and Indigenous women face death rates up to 4.5 times higher than white women, a clear sign of systemic failure.
37 Women per 10,000
Hemorrhage remains a leading, and largely preventable, cause of maternal complications. It disproportionately affects resource-scarce communities, affecting nearly 37 women per 10,000 delivery hospitalizations in 2020.
Double
A child's zip code should not determine their health destiny. Yet, poverty doubles their likelihood of chronic conditions like asthma and developmental delays, limiting their opportunity for a healthy life from the start.

Changing the Story of Birth and Health, Together

Health disparities shouldn’t affect entire generations. At New York Academy of Medicine, we are rewriting this narrative by amplifying community voices, advancing groundbreaking research with our partners, and building systems of support. We are working together toward a future where every family can thrive — regardless of race, income, or zip code.

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By leveraging New York Academy of Medicine’s policy and community networks, we ensure these critical perspectives reach decision-makers. This initiative goes beyond research; it’s a collaborative effort to redesign support systems for providers and their patients, uplifting medical expertise to achieve better outcomes for children and families across diverse communities.

Maternal and Child Health Equity Initiative

Maternal and Child Health Equity Initiative

Our Women's Health Research & Well-being Workgroup partners with leading institutions to turn research into real policy change for marginalized birthing populations. Through our reproductive justice collaboration with the NYC Health Department, we place Black and Indigenous voices at the center of solution-building, helping to dismantle systemic barriers one program at a time.
Bronx and Queens Healthy Start Programs

Bronx and Queens Healthy Start Programs

These federally funded initiatives directly address the root causes of maternal complications, including preventable hemorrhages. By strengthening prenatal care, emergency preparedness, and postpartum support networks, we help ensure care protocols truly serve our highest-risk populations.
East Harlem Action Collaborative for Child Health and Well-Being

East Harlem Action Collaborative for Child Health and Well-Being

Engaging thousands of children and elevating caregiver expertise, we're proving that communities are at the center of their own transformation. This collaborative unites service providers, technical experts, and policymakers to co-design solutions that improve access to nutrition, safe housing, and preventive care.
The voices of unlisted home-based child care providers

The voices of unlisted home-based child care providers

The Having Their Say grant, funded by the Foundation for Child Development, elevates the voices of unlisted home-based child care providers, essential caregivers often overlooked in policy and research. Through focus groups and national surveys, we gather their insights to inform equitable early childhood policy and practice in New York City and beyond.
New York Academy of Medicine
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