Embrace Center of Excellence

09/10/2026

Doulas continue to see racial inequities in care, including delayed pain management and pressure on Black birthing people to accept unwanted interventions.

While Medicaid coverage can expand access, credentialing, enrollment, and administrative barriers can make it harder for community doulas to do their work.

Read more about this work here ➡ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13421928/

08/26/2026

Myana (Mothers, you are not alone) is a comprehensive
postpartum support app designed to help birthing parents make informed decisions about their health and well-being throughout the first year after birth.

Read more about how Myana was built here ➡ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13420981/

08/24/2026

We had such a great time last week filming our new podcast, EMBRACE Today! We filmed our entire first season interviewing researchers, advocates, and community members across Allegheny County.

Stay tuned for more!

07/30/2026

Our Data Justice Working Group is building community power by advancing equitable, transparent, and accessible data practices. Together with the community, we're strengthening collaboration and shaping research that drives knowledge justice and meaningful impact.

07/24/2026

This week is Black Maternal Mental Health Week, a time to recognize that maternal mental health in Allegheny County matters and that Black mothers are facing unique challenges and disparities in accessing mental health support.

If you or a loved one is struggling, please know that help is available:
📞 National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-852-6262
📞 Postpartum Support International: 1-800-944-4773

07/22/2026

Erricka Hager, PhD, MPH (she/her) has just joined EMBRACE as a Postdoctoral Associate! Dr. Hager's interdisciplinary research employs arts-based methods to explore how Black families, particularly Black women, communicate about family health history across generations, with a focus on maternal health, by centering the voices and lived experiences of Black women.

07/14/2026

Have you met our artist in residence, Alecia Dawn Young? Alecia is a ceramic artist, scholar, and wellness practitioner who explores creative practice as a facet of community well-being. Her artistic work is deeply rooted in Black cultural traditions, specifically drawing inspiration from hair care rituals, collectivism, and community archives. Alecia dedicates her time to thriving ecosystems of community-based arts. She is an energetic thought partner; her career spans a commitment to community arts education and wellness, rooted in making, teaching, and researching in the visual arts.

07/01/2026

Did you miss our newsletter? No worries! You can check it out here in case you missed it in your inbox

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to the EMBRACE Summit and helped make it a success this year! We appreciate your presence, insights, and the many ways you contribute to the maternal-child workforce helping families flourish!

06/23/2026

“When families lack access to safe housing or basic resources, it directly impacts infant safety,” said Jada Shirriel. “If we want to save lives, we must invest in communities, strengthen maternal health, and meet families with compassion and culturally responsive care.”

Every 2024 case in the county included at least one unsafe sleep factor.

06/19/2026

Today, we honor and celebrate Juneteenth! At EMBRACE, we continuously work to advance maternal and reproductive health equity and justice through multidisciplinary research, training, practice, and policy efforts focused on Black birthing people.

Celebrate Juneteenth today and all weekend with family-friendly activities, live music, and Black-owned businesses: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/events-festivals/annual-events/juneteenth/