Indigenous Birth Equity

Grantee: Native American Women’s Dialog on Infant Mortality (NAWDIM)
Timeframe: July 2024 – June 2025 | Amount: $50,000

Native American Women’s Dialog on Infant Mortality (NAWDIM) will work with Native birth workers, policymakers, direct service providers, and allies to refine the 2023 Indigenous Birth Equity Collective Priorities, with the goal of improving birth outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people in King County.

NAWDIM’s Indigenous Birth Equity initiative addresses significant disparities in AI/AN infant and maternal health in the area. Data from 2017-2021 shows AI/AN infant mortality rates at 19.2 per 1,000 live births, compared to 4.0 countywide and 3.2 for White babies. The preterm birth rate for AI/AN babies stands at 15.6%, higher than the county average of 9.3% and 8.2% for White babies.

Maternal health data is similarly troubling: 11.8% of AI/AN mothers receive late or no prenatal care, compared to 4.8% countywide and 3.5% for White mothers. The smoking rate among AI/AN mothers is 11.9%, while the countywide rate is 1.7% and 2.0% for White mothers. PRAMS data indicates that AI/AN mothers experience chronic stressors at five times the rate of White mothers.

NAWDIM is dedicated to addressing these disparities through critical interventions and support, which are often compounded by limited grant access, underrepresentation in public health data, and structural racism.

As a mostly volunteer collective, NAWDIM invests staff time and community-led solutions into their 24-year history of success, which includes promoting Indigenous doulas, securing Medicaid reimbursement, and increasing Native leadership on Maternal Mortality Review panels. Funding supports advocacy for culturally responsive resources and policies, such as infant cradleboard classes with Talking Circles, safe sleep education, and Traditional Indian Medicine teachings, in collaboration with Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services and the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB).

NAWDIM will host community gatherings in Seattle/King County to share information, seek input, and advocate for AI/AN health policies through local, state, and national boards and committees. In 2023, NAWDIM successfully facilitated the inclusion of six Native representatives on the Washington State Maternal Mortality Review Committee, ensuring grassroots representation and pushing for policy changes.

Additionally, NAWDIM collaborates with the Equal Start Community Coalition on the national Black Maternal Momnibus Act, which includes 13 bills aimed at reforming federal maternal health policy to benefit all communities. Briefed by SIHB partners on six bills affecting AI/AN health, NAWDIM will advocate for these measures alongside their Black counterparts to advance collective birth equity.

NAWDIM engages their target population through monthly meetings and community events. With a Lead Organizer on staff, they have strengthened outreach through tabling and social media, ensuring continuous community feedback and open communication.

ABOUT OUR GRANTEE

Native American Women’s Dialog on Infant Mortality (NAWDIM)

“NAWDIM is a collective of Native care providers, community members, grandmas and our allies who provide advocacy, education and support for American Indian and Alaska Native infants, moms and families in Washington State.

Since 2001, NAWDIM has convened monthly. Our goal has been to educate ourselves and each other about the realities faced by our Native-child bearers, the data that reflects their journey to parenthood, and to be strategic in how we collaborate to improve practices, policies, and conditions for better birth outcomes.”

NAWDIM is fiscally sponsored by Alliance for a Just Society