table of contents
Mission, Vision, & Values
Mission
The Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative equips families to have healthy births with dignity and reduce maternal health disparities—creating a healthier, more equitable community for all.
Vision
At Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative, we envision a world in which all people are centered and respected before, during and after pregnancy.
Values
Empowerment + Advocacy
Community
Compassion
Education
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I am delighted to pause and reflect together over the past 5 years of work done to support birthing people in Tulsa and beyond in this report. Who knew my desire to ensure that expecting teens had doula support would grow to be an organization that continues to fight to ensure that all birthing people can create a family with dignity.
I want to thank LaBrisa Williams for having the foresight to dream bigger by founding what is now known as the Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative The past 5 years have been a remarkable journey marked by significant achievements, growth, and resilience. TBEI was one of the few doula programs across the nation that quickly pivoted to continue support during COVID. TBEI has been able to sustain a full time doula workforce with benefits and create the only doula progression work program in the country. We have seen promising data that shows that Black women served by TBEI doulas are roughly half as likely to experience a preterm birth than the state's average. The reputation of TBEI is known both far and near and recognized for its groundbreaking community work as a member of the Safer Childbirth Cities Initiative.
While we have seen many strides and wins in the work, we continue to see Black and Native women suffer from the effects of systemic racism in health care and beyond in this country. This is the angst that keeps me up at night and powers our team to push on to build a renewed future for Black and Native women. We will work to ensure that more women experience the JOY that every birthing person deserves, creating a future for families to thrive and grow!
We encourage you to join us on this journey by s social media channels or by making a financial birthing family. Thank you for your continued sup -OmareJimmerson,MPH Reflectingonfiveyearsofbirthequity:
WE WILL WORK TO ENSURE THAT MORE WOMEN EXPERIENCE THE JOY THAT EVERY BIRTHING PERSON DESERVES, CREATING A FUTURE FOR FAMILIES TO THRIVE AND GROW!
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Birth Equity
By the Numbers
Despite increasing national and local attention and efforts to address the maternal health crisis, severe disparities remain between women of color, particularly Black women, and their white counterparts for outcomes and treatment in birth.
3.2X Black Women
pregnancy-related mortality rate as white women
Nationally, collegeeducated Black women and birthing people have a pregnancyrelated mortality rate5X that of white birthing people
In OK, there were 67.5 maternal deaths for Black women and 59.8 maternal deaths for Native women per 100K live births compared to 21.2 for white women, reported by the Maternal Mortality Review Committee in 2023
BlackWomenSupportedbyTBEI
BlackWomeninTulsaCo
WhiteWomeninTulsaCo
BlackWomenSupportedbyTBEI
BlackWomeninTulsaCo
WhiteWomeninTulsaCo
Native Women
2.8x
pregnancy-related mortality rate as white women
Cesarean Rate for TBEI-Supported clients
Cesarean Rate for Tulsa County Black Women
To address these disparities and their root causes, TBEI has programs that serve individuals, communities, and systems.
Community-Based Doula SErvices
Fromjust18clientsinFY2020to276clientsinFY2024,TheCommunityBasedDoulaProgramisTBEI’scornerstone.Asahomevisitationprogram, servicesbeginearlyinpregnancyandcontinuethroughone-yearpostpartum, endingwithafirstbirthdaypartycelebration.
Theeffectivenessoftheprogramemergesoutofthetrustingrelationship betweenthecommunity-baseddoulaandtheparticipant,thedurationofthe relationship,andthecontinuouspresenceofthedouladuringlaborandbirth.
A message from a client
“My doula is amazing and so is this program I had no idea what a doula was and it was the best choice. I feel so much more empowered and knowledgeable as a first time mom and a mom who has no family here. She has become that. I love that she will be there with me for my C-section and even offered to help me meal prep during one of our visits. I don’t feel alone in the process and am much more calm and confident.”
Snapshot of our doula program
OFCLIENTSSTRONGLY RECOMMENDTBEIDOULA SERVICESTOFRIENDSORFAMILY 96%
18 in 2020 clients
60 in 2021 clients
97 in 2022 clients
“Me gusta por que he aprendido de muchos recursos comunitarios y tambien de eventos comunitarios, mi doula me escucha y me entiende, tengo 5 hijos y este ultimo embarazo estuve acompanada por primera vez de una doula fue muy diferentes y positivo gracias a la Guia de mi doula.”
187 in 2023 clients
276 in 2024 clients
"I did not have to do it alone, even though I am that type of person that does everything by themselves with no help, I wanted to have someone for this."
"My body was not exactly ready to bring my child into the world but the doctors recommended medically induced labor for me and my son's safety. I had three full days of labor, three days in the hospital, three days in bed. It felt like everything that I did not want happened but she was there to encourage me and keep me going. She was there to help me, I did not have to do it alone, even though I am that type of person that does everything by themselves with no help, I wanted to have someone for this "
"I think that my experience would have been completely different if I did not have a doula. The sad thing is the numbers that Black women face when in labor and having complications or even dying during childbirth are scary I think that I could have been a statistic, part of the statistics, because of all that I faced in the hospital. There were decisions that I needed to make which I did not necessarily know, but having an advocate helped me with that She would slow down and explain all the information that was coming from the doctors and she would explain it in more simple terms. I think that I could have been a statistic, that is the hard part or I could have been extremely overwhelmed throughout the whole pregnancy, labor, delivery and even after."
"In the beginning, my doula was more like an educator, our weekly visits were more educational as this is my first baby, I did not know much, I had a lot of questions. After I had my baby, our relationship grew to a friendship."
"I would recommend pregnant women to come to TBEI, because it is actually helpful, it makes an impact and it takes away so much stress, because that time, even though it is beautiful, it can be stressful, from different decisions you have to make. So, I would recommend a doula because you do not have to know everything and you can actually chill out in your pregnancy."
Community-Based Doula Training
Trained and Certified Doulas by Fiscal Year
Spring 2020: Shifted to Virtual Training
July 2022: Hired Training Coordinator; Began Tulsa Tech Partnership
July 2023: Hired Training Manager
May 2024: Hired Certification Coordinator - Tulsa Service Year
25 to 30 contact hours
Teaches
Covers many additional skills such as providing culturallyconcordant care and communication Provided at no-cost tbei’s CommunityBased Training
60+ contact hours
Teaches skills needed to provide doula care
Community Doula Summit
In 2023, TBEI launched our annual Community Doula Summit to bring together trained doulas for community building and continuing education Over 2 years, we brought in community experts to provide 9 continuing education credits across topics from building a business to lactation support
Renew:
In 2024, TBEI and SisterWeb developed the Blossoming Birth community-based doula training curriculum model, which is module-based and can be adapted to suit different community needs. The training will be piloted in Fall 2024 in Tulsa and San Francisco; the finalized training will allow for expansion across Oklahoma.
“I love love loveeeee the sense of community, the sense of sisterhood!”
2023 Doula Summit Attendees 62
2024 Doula Summit Attendees
Queens Village
Reflect: Modeled after the successful program in Cincinnati, Ohio, Queens Village is a supportive community of powerful Black women who come together to relax, repower and take care of them
Since launching in Tulsa in 2021, Queen women and hosted 36 total events
In 2024, we hosted our first annual Queens Village Baby Shower as part of Black Maternal Health Week. We served over 40 women and gave essential resources including diapers, wipes, diaper bags, pack and plays, and a car seat!
SINCETHEINCEPTIONOFQUEENSVILLAGETULSA,WEHAVE ACHIEVEDTHEFOLLOWINGMILESTONES
EstablishedaCommunityAdvisoryBoard(CAB):Comprising12dedicated Blackwomenfromthecommunity.
Hosted36Events:FeaturingtheSugarJarSeriesthatfocusedonhealing andsisterhoodforBlackwomeninTulsa.
DevelopedLeadershipOpportunities:EmpoweredCABmembersto curateeventsandengagedirectlywithcommunitymembersandpartners.
Supported12Black-OwnedBusinesses:Activelypromotedand collaboratedwithlocalBlackentrepreneurs.
ForgedOver20CommunityPartnerships:Builtstrongalliancesto enhanceourimpact.
ReachedNearly800BlackWomen:Engagedwithasignificantnumberof BlackwomenacrosstheTulsaMetroareathrougheventsandsocial platforms.
In 2025, Queens Village will launch the first QV Corner at the North Tulsa Health Department, which will serve over 5,000 Black women of childbearing age.
Community Advisory Board members will have additional opportunities to cultivate community through Village Aunties.
“The organizers of Queen Village did an excellent job of creating a supportive atmosphere with culturally sensitive prenatal care and discussions on maternal health disparities. They gave access to resources like doula services and lactation consultants . We focused on body positivity and self-care which was inspiring. I particularly enjoyed the networking opportunities with other expecting mothers from similar backgrounds. The incorporation of cultural celebration through music, dance, and cuisine added an extra layer of connection and community. Overall, it was a well put together event that left me feeling supported, informed, and empowered on my pregnancy journey.”
Hospital Quality Improvement
Doctors’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare programs play a vital, powerful role in ensuring equitable health outcomes for all Tulsans. Through partnerships with Ariadne Labs and OBCOAP TBEI has worked to implement evidence-based ystems.
In partnership with Ariadne Labs, TBEI helped launch and sustain TeamBirth, a patient-centered care model, at Hillcrest Medical Center and OSU Medical Center, where together over 4000 babies are born annually. This partnership also reached early-career providers at TCC Nursing School and OSU Residency program to introduce TeamBirth into lectures and clinical simulations With the OBCOAP data program, TBEI and partners can analyze and take action on maternal and infant health outcomes at Hillcrest and OSU. This partnership and data sharing allows TBEI to work with clinicians to identify and tailor interventions to their unique populations
Educated 500+ Providers and Students
"The entire experience was truly a team effort and went smoothly start to finish. They are the true model in my opinion. The doctors and nurses were the best hands down. I was allowed to stay in the room with the client while she received her epidural which is unheard of, but they kept the client's wishes in mind.
- LAchelle TBEI Doula
Healthcare Providers Reached by Fiscal Year
2023 FY 2024
Renew:
“I
have been so impressed with everyone on my team! Thank you for making my choices clear and respecting and affirming the ones we’ve made.”
Public Awareness &
RENEWYOU
DONAT
$20provide $40providesaw
BIRTHEQUITY COMMITMENT
$50coversalltrainingmaterialsforone Community-BasedDoula(CBD)trainee
$80provideschildcareforDoulatraining toremovebarrierstofurthereducation
$400providesstipendstoaCBDtrainee foranentirecohorttoremovebarriers gettingtoclass
$1,000provideseverythingneededfor onepersontocompleteCBDtraining
SCANTO DONATE
RENEWINGOUR COMMITMENT TOBIRTHEQUITY
To launch the renewed strategic plan TBEI partnered with Restorative Justice Institute of Oklahoma and held focus groups to understand the needs of the community, trained doulas, and staff.
These bold conversations led to our updated goals and strategies.
We are setting universal goals that we want all racial and ethnic groups in our communities to meet. We are approaching our goals with an equity lens, that will give everyone in our community the same opportunity to live and thrive. Targeted interventions will be implemented to effectively address specific needs in populations that are disproportionately impacted in the area of maternal and child health.
UNIVERSALGOALS
Eliminate maternal and infant health disparities in Oklahoma.
Ensure all Oklahomans have clear and accessible options to engage with a movement for equitable and joyful birthing experiences.
Increase access to Community Birth Workers for women in Oklahoma, so that they feel empowered to advocate for the birthing experience that brings them and their family joy.
Spark a collaborative effort to support and hold the health care system accountable to serving all their birthing clients equitably by valuing the expertise of community members and community organizations.
STRATEGICGOALS
IN 5 YEARS
Increase the number of Black birthing people utilizing culturally competent doula services to 10%.
Increase the number of Certified Nurse Midwives practicing in Tulsa that mirror the population to at least 2
IN 10 YEARS
Decrease Black infant mortality rate in Tulsa County by 50%
Decrease the rate of preterm births amongst Black birthing people in Oklahoma from 16.3% to 11.0%.
Decrease the rate of low birth weight amongst Black birthing people in Oklahoma from 15 6% to 7 9%
STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES
Train 150 community-based doulas across the state targeting at least 6 maternal health dessert communities.
Support Medicaid reimbursement services for at least 40% of TBEI certified doulas
Facilitate at least 2 community surveys annually with at least 100 participants each to gather feedback on hospital birthing experiences.
Collaborate with at least one hospital partner to improve community scorecards by providing training and evaluation for staff in patient-centered care, communication, and cultural competency
Support at least 2 culturally congruent Certified Nurse Midwives in their schooling process on the road to certification.
Replicate best practices so that at least 3 hospitals have a Smooth Transitions plan for women in need of transferred care from a birthing center
Partner with at least 2 birthing centers to increase access for birthing people on Medicaid
Spring 2019
Omare brings a doula training program to Tulsa to support students in Strong Tomorrows.
2019
Community-Based Doula Program is housed at YMCA. fall 2019
2019
The first cohort of doulas graduates. august 2019 2019
OUr story
2019
Doulaservicesandtrainingscontinued duringCOVID StartedDoulaCareerProgressionProgram HelpedinfluenceDoulaMedicaid ReimbursementPolicy Recognizedasadoulacertifyingbody throughOHCA StartedAnnualDoulaSummitin2023 Participatedinthe2023TimeUseStudy throughtheDoulaDataConsortium PresentedatLadyChartsin2021&2023 2023ChampionsofHealthFinalist
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The CommunityBased Doula Program becomes Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative (TBEI). september 2020
2020
Two doulas are hired as the first full-time employees. LaBrisa Williams is hired to manage the program. november 2019
2021
TBEI launches the Hospital Quality Improvement Program and TeamBirth at Hillcrest and OSU. april 2021
Launchednewdatacollectionsystemin2023 HostedSaferChildbirthCitiesNationalSite VisitinFebruary2024
LaunchedDoulaRecertification QVGlowingandGrowingAwardin2024 BeganNestUeducationservicesforclients PresentedandPosteredatAMCHP2024 PresentedandPosteredatBMMAinSeptember 2024
Diversifiedfundingstreamswith7new funders
TBEI hires a Training Coordinator and begins a partnership with Tulsa Tech. july 2022
2022
2022
Omare Jimmerson begins working at TBEI as Exectuive Director. september 2022
2022
Part-time Doula Hub launches. august 2022
TBEI expands doula services to include Latine population. december 2023
2023
2023 Fall 2024 2024
TBEI reintroduces Queens Village and hires a QV Coordinator. april 2023
