Blue KC is committed to advancing health equity and improving the health and well-being of our members and community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By listening to our members, conducting research, and partnering with organizations, we understand the unique needs of our community and the inequities that exist within it. One important issue is the racial disparities that are present in pregnancy. According to the CDC, black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. These disparities are caused by multiple factors, including variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias. Social determinants of health also prevent many people from racial and ethnic minority groups from having fair opportunities for economic, physical, and emotional health.1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Blue KC is proud to sponsor the Black Health Care Coalition<\/a> Community Baby Showers that honor and support expecting parents. Community Baby Showers have many practical offerings for parents, including information about maternal health, opportunities to make connections for needed resources and education, and diapers, food, and gifts. A true celebration, these events also offer the chance to pose for a maternity photo shoot and play games. Blue KC has committed to providing a financial contribution to help fund the quarterly baby showers, and also joins in the action, bringing along our Blue to You Van, and offering preventive screenings and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The support doesn\u2019t end after the baby shower. The Black Health Care Coalition continues to work with these families through early childhood, to ensure both the parent and child are receiving the medical care and resources they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCommunity Baby Showers are a wonderful opportunity for Blue KC to partner and align with organizations to support the community and lift our families up to better health,\u201d Tia Kennedy, Blue KC Health Equity Manager said. \u201cHealth is an investment, and it\u2019s a privilege to help families get a healthy start to life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next Community Baby Showers are scheduled for June 8th<\/sup> and November 2nd<\/sup>. If you would like to attend, please register here<\/a> or call 816-444-9600.<\/p>\n\n\n