Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness
by Gabe Doyle, FFBWW Chief Health Initiatives Officer & Access Board of Directors member
At the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness (FFBWW), we energize, mobilize and support Black Women and their families to transform their health and their lives through education, advocacy, support, and powerful partnerships. Our focus is to work to eliminate health disparities and other barriers impacting the lives of Black women and their families and communities.
When community-based organizations and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHCs) like the FFBWW and Access Community Health Centers partner, they can offer a comprehensive, coordinated, and efficient approach to addressing community health needs. Such partnerships are increasingly recognized as essential in promoting health equity and ensuring that all community members have access and culturally safe experiences to the resources and care they need to thrive.
Over the past six years, the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness has partnered with Access and the Dane County Health Council to eliminate the maternal and infant health disparities persistent to Dane County. The initiative is called Saving Our Babies and merges clinical and community support to wrap comprehensive medical and social supports around Black birthing people to improve trust, experience and health outcomes across the perinatal continuum. Additionally, the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness Community Health Initiatives team, composed of doulas and community health workers provide health literacy, increase patient confidence in systems and reassures patients that self-advocacy will be valued at Access Community Health Center. Having a trusted medical partner, located in the same zip codes we serve is an incredible opportunity for our shared clients.
The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness has deep roots in the Black community and profound trust among the population they serve. When partnering with an Access, this can lead to better outreach and increased utilization of health services by community members.
