C2: Critical Conversations that Lie at the Heart of Health Justice

Over the last two decades, there have been profound advancements in what we know about the implications of ancestral trauma on the health and wellbeing of future generations. The question we investigate today: how is intergenerational trauma relevant to public health? We welcome Dr. Alicia Mendez to help answer this question. Dr. Mendez is a research assistant professor at Boston University’s school of social work. She studies child welfare and intergenerational trauma with a focus on mother-offspring relationships. Join us as we discuss what intergenerational trauma is, the current state of research in this field, and her own stories and motivations as to what encouraged her to perform her own research on this topic. 

For resources for parents, click here: https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/responding/trauma/caregivers/

The production of this podcast was supported by Grant G-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the host and guests of this podcast episode and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS.

*Various sensitive topics that may be triggering for some listeners will be discussed in this production, so listener discretion is advised.* The topic of this month’s episode is sexual violence. Women in the United States suffer from sexual violence at alarming rates. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of women have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes. We welcome Dr. Emily Rothman and Gina Scaramella MSW to the podcast to explore this public health concern. Join us as we discuss an important and sensitive issue that impacts the health of individuals, mothers, families, and communities.

Follow this link to access the autism training platform recently developed by Rothman and Scaramella: https://sites.bu.edu/autismsa/

If you or someone you know is in need of sexual violence resources, please see the following information:

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

https://www.nsvrc.org/

The production of this podcast was supported by Grant G-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the host and guests of this podcast episode and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS.

This episode is the second part of our Season 2 Doula Series. Doula care has been proven to improve the health outcomes of birthing individuals, yet access to this service remains limited. We welcome Cara Safon, a fourth-year PhD candidate at BUSPH, to discuss the mechanisms behind the benefits of doula care and ways to improve accessibility to this type of care. Tune in as we continue our Doula Care Series which was inspired by the recent partnership between doula agency Birthing Gently and Massachusetts General Brigham as part of its United Against Racism Project.

Visit these websites for more information about doula care and to reference the information addressed in this episode:

MA doula bill

Maternal mortality in the US

Maternal health terminology

Doula care benefits

More doula care benefits

National Health Law Program-Doula Medicaid Project

National Academy for State Health Policy-State Medicaid Approaches to Doula Service Benefits

The production of this podcast was supported by Grant G-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the host and guests of this podcast episode and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS.

Doula care has been proven to improve the health outcomes of birthing individuals, yet access to these services remains limited. Birthing Gently recently partnered with Massachusetts General Brigham as part of its United Against Racism Project. The goal of the program is to match Birth Doulas with low-income and at-risk patients. We welcome Katia Powell-Laurent, PhD to our podcast to discuss the forged partnership, the role of birth doulas on a collaborative care team, and general strategies for addressing maternal mortality.

For more information on the partnership between MGB and Birthing Gently, follow this link: https://www.birthinggently.com/bgmh-program

The production of this podcast was supported by Grant G-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the host and guests of this podcast episode and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS.

The phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy has escalated significantly over the last decade. Skepticism surrounding immunization, however, is not a new reality in the United States. In Episode 4 of our second season, we welcome Professor Matthew Motta, PhD to the podcast as we trace vaccine hesitancy back to our nation's founding. We discuss the various triggers that have fueled anti-vaccination sentiments with a focus on parental and maternal immunization. Tune in to hear more about politics and motivated reasoning, federal versus state immunization legislation, the controversy surrounding the Gardasil vaccine, and more.

For more information about vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccine confidence strengthening efforts at the national level: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/vaccinate-with-confidence.html

For more information about getting vaccinated against HPV: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/public/index.html

The production of this podcast was supported by Grant G-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the host and guests of this podcast episode and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS.

Gun violence poses profound threats to the health of children, women, mothers, and communities across the United States. In 2020 firearms became the leading cause of death among children ages 19 and below. Additionally, women in the United States who are pregnant or have recently given birth are more likely to die from murder than from obstetric causes. 68% of these homicides involved firearms. Michael Ulrich, professor at Boston University School of Law and School of Public Health, shares his academic expertise with us as we explore the scope and reality of gun violence in America. 

Visit these sources for more information about the statistics listed in the episode description and to learn more about the implications of gun violence: 

https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/issue-brief/child-and-teen-firearm-mortality-in-the-u-s-and-peer-countries/

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/homicide-leading-cause-of-death-for-pregnant-women-in-u-s/

The production of this podcast was supported by Grant G-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the host and guests of this podcast episode and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS.

Individuals experiencing homelessness face worsened health outcomes in addition to social ostracization, lack of safety, and limited access to resources. Dr. Aura Obando, pediatrician and Family Team Medical Director at Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, joins us to speak about her expertise and experience in caring for homeless families and youth. Tune in to our conversation as we explore a variety of topics related to homelessness prevention, substance use disorders, reproductive health care, and fostering the health of family units. 

Learn more about Boston Healthcare for the Homeless here: https://www.bhchp.org/

For information about finding emergency shelter in Massachusetts please visit: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/find-emergency-shelter

The production of this podcast was supported by Grant G-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the host and guests of this podcast episode and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS.

Individuals experiencing homelessness face worsened health outcomes in addition to social ostracization, lack of safety, and limited access to resources. Lianne O'Reilly joins us today to talk about her role as a Clinical Advocate for Women's Lunch Place, a women's day shelter in the heart of Boston. Tune in to our conversation as we discuss the importance of advocacy and activism in support of homeless women, mothers, and children.

Learn more about Women's Lunch Place at: womenslunchplace.org

For information about finding emergency shelter in Massachusetts please visit: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/find-emergency-shelter

The production of this podcast was supported by Grant G-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Its contents are solely the responsibility of the host and guests of this podcast episode and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS.

Welcome to season 2 of C2: Critical Conversations that Lie at the Heart of Health Justice! Host Emily Rose O'Neil introduces the second season on our podcast's one-year anniversary, which also falls on International Women's Day. We hope these episodes serve you in learning and carrying conversations around health justice issues with your peers, families, and communities. Thank you for joining our community. We hope you enjoy listening!

Today’s conversation is with Jessie Colbert, the Executive Director of MASS PPD Fund. I talk with Jessie about the intersection of mental and maternal health and we dig deep into topics like Postpartum Depression and Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).

Find out more about the organization mentioned during this podcast here: