Philadelphia to Host Black Maternal Health Conference
The fifth annual equity conference will take place on November 17, 2026, to address racial disparities in neonatal care.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Babies
Live Poll
Do you trust local hospitals to provide equitable care to all families regardless of race?
Once Upon A Preemie will hold its fifth annual Black Maternal Health and Neonatal Equity Conference in Philadelphia on November 17, 2026. The organization works to improve care outcomes by training professionals in racial equity and providing support to families.
Why it matters
The organization aims to eliminate racial health disparities in maternal and neonatal care, a goal driven by the experience of founder Jenné Johns. By training medical professionals to implement standardized measures, the group seeks to close gaps in support for families.
Once Upon A Preemie plans to reach 1 million Black preemie families through its initiatives. The nonprofit's founder spent 77 days in a neonatal intensive care unit with her son, who was born at 26 weeks gestation.
The players
Once Upon A Preemie, Inc.
This nonprofit organization provides racial equity training for perinatal professionals and direct support to families in the NICU.
Jenné Johns
She is the founder of Once Upon A Preemie, Inc. and formerly served as the Director of Health Disparities at a Medicaid managed care organization.
The details
Once Upon A Preemie provides virtual and in-person support for NICU families while partnering with hospitals to implement professional training. The organization's e-learning academy has successfully demonstrated effectiveness in increasing breastfeeding rates among Black mothers in clinical settings.
Timeline
Once Upon A Preemie was founded in 2020.
The fifth annual Black Maternal Health and Neonatal Equity Conference occurs on November 17, 2026.
Culture Shift
This conference highlights a growing movement to address the racial disparities in neonatal and maternal health outcomes. The focus on professional training signifies a shift toward institutional accountability in medical equity.
Families in the Philadelphia area can access virtual and in-person support resources through the organization's network. The conference provides local professionals and residents an opportunity to engage with standardized measures aimed at improving maternal health outcomes.
The takeaway
Addressing health equity requires both institutional policy changes and direct community support for families in the NICU. Advocates emphasize that training medical staff in racial equity is a measurable path toward improving long-term health outcomes for Black mothers and infants.
Further reading
Find more resources on infant care at the Babies section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rolling Out.
Live Poll
Do you trust local hospitals to provide equitable care to all families regardless of race?
