Vermont BIPOC Birthing Study Released: Centering Community Voices to Advance Maternal Health Equity

The Creative Discourse Group (TCDG), in partnership with the Vermont Department of Health's Maternal Health Innovation Team, has completed the Vermont BIPOC Birthing Study, a statewide effort to better understand the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) birthing people across Vermont.

Through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and participant letters to system leaders, the study explored how birthing people experience maternal healthcare before, during, and after birth. Participants shared candid insights about communication, emotional safety, representation, trust, and the factors that shape their interactions with healthcare systems.

Designed using a trauma-informed and community-centered approach, the study prioritized relationship-building, cultural responsiveness, and participant voice throughout the research process. By centering lived experience as a source of expertise, the project generated meaningful findings and actionable recommendations for strengthening maternal health equity across Vermont.

"I am incredibly grateful to the study team, Dr. Nadia DuBose, Hope Elliott, and Reese C. Kelly, Ph.D., BCTMB, and the courageous individuals who shared their stories," said Emily Smith, Ph.D., Director of Program Evaluation in the Division of Family and Child Health at the Vermont Department of Health. "This report is more than just a study. It is an invitation to listen, learn, and take action."

The release of the report marks an important milestone, but it is only the beginning. TCDG and the Vermont Department of Health are now working together on implementation efforts designed to translate findings into practice, support maternal healthcare providers, strengthen systems, and ensure participant voices continue to inform future work.

Learn more about the Vermont Maternal Health Innovation – BIPOC Birthing Study

Read the Full Report HERE