Ohio Black Maternal Caucus Begins Work

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Ohio's first-ever Black Maternal Health Caucus began meeting this week. Formed by Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes and Rep. Janine Boyd, the group is beginning to formulate its mission.

“I’m encouraged by the outpouring of support and interest we’ve seen, and look forward to working together to create a framework for the future to restore the promise of Ohio for Black women and families,” said Boyd, a Democrat from Cleveland Heights. “Still, in recent days, hateful and extreme rhetoric I’ve experienced further proves what Black women face in America when they advocate for control over their own bodies and healthcare. It underscores just how much work we have before us.”

Among the current initiatives for Democratic lawmakers, Sykes said, is strengthening language around reducing maternal mortality in the proposed state budge. This would mean more funding for home visits, programs to link pregnant women to healthcare services, expanding post-partum care and increasing funds for treatment of mothers and babies born with opioid addiction.

“The promise of a better life and brighter future in Ohio can’t be restricted to one ideology, gender or race,” said Sykes, a Democrat from Arkon. “Until everyone has the chance to live up to their God-given promise, we can’t grow or be competitive as a state. To restore Ohio’s promise, we need to cut through the partisan, divisive rhetoric and begin to have real, honest conversations about how we can keep Black mothers, babies and communities healthy in Ohio.”

The founding members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus include state Reps. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland), Erica Crawley (D-Columbus), Tavia Galonski (D-Akron), Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland), Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati), Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), and state Sens. Tina Maharath (D-Columbus) and Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland).