(Washington D.C., June 23, 2023) – Reproductive Health Impact:The Collaborative for Equity & Justice (RH Impact, formerly RH Impact), a Black-women led organization and one of the nation’s leading advocacy organizations with expertise in the Black maternal health, reproductive health and infant mortality crises, is the proud recipient of grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through a cooperative agreement with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). These organizations have awarded $16 million in subgrant funding to 36 projects aimed at testing innovative outreach strategies to increase participation and equity in the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC. Grant awards have been made available through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is making a difference in the lives of pregnant women, moms, babies and young children by providing proven health interventions through the
WIC program,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We’re pleased to work with such a strong and diverse group of subgrant partners across the nation to ensure everyone eligible for
WIC can tap into its incredible benefits.”
“While our efforts to increase participation among eligible groups appear to be taking hold, we have more work to do,” said Stacy Dean, deputy under secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.
The
WIC Community Innovation and Outreach Project, or
WIC CIAO, subgrantees include
WIC state and local agencies and community-based organizations, including four subgrants led by tribal nations or entities. The
WIC Community Innovation & Outreach (
WIC CIAO) Project subgrant supports innovative projects to expand
WIC awareness, participation, and retention among underserved populations.
“RH Impact is honored to have been selected as a
WIC CIAO subgrantee. We are incredibly grateful to accept this amazing opportunity and excited to work with Crescent City Family Services (CCFS) to support the
WIC program in Southeast Louisiana, especially as it relates to local disasters,” said Kiley Mayfield, Director of Community Power Building at Reproductive Health Impact.
“It would be impossible for organizations like RH Impact to continue the crucial work of ensuring reproductive health and well-being for Black women and birthing people without consistent funding support from committed donors. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership with
WIC CIAO which will allow us to continue promoting birth equity, advocating for improved birth outcomes for Black mamas and their babies, as well as working to curb the rapidly rising maternal and infant mortality rates that disproportionately impact members of our community,” says Khalilah Elliott, VP of Institutional Development & Capacity Building at Reproductive Health Impact.
