A Letter from the Directors: Anti-Racism and Our Commitment to Our Community
Dear Community,
The PWCB stands with the Black Lives Matter Movement, and is deeply moved by the wave of activism we are seeing in our community in supporting the rights and well-being of Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC). We are committed to looking at issues related to power, privilege, oppression, and racism, and we realize that we, as a collective of practitioners, have much work to do in order to be considered potential allies in our community. Like so many other businesses around us, we are taking stock of the ways in which our practices are impacted by implicit bias, and we are looking to actively uproot white supremacy and its influence on the mental health and well being of women and their families.
As shared by Postpartum Support International and other data collectors, we know the following to be true:
• CDC data confirms that Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications, and twice as likely to lose an infant to premature death.
• According to the NIH, Black mothers are several times more likely to suffer from Postpartum Depression but less likely to receive treatment and follow-up.
• This year, we are painfully aware that African Americans are at significantly greater risk of contracting the potentially deadly Covid-19 virus and less likely to receive proper treatment, due to the same root causes of the effects of long-standing racism in social and healthcare systems.
We understand that it is imperative for us at the PWCB to acknowledge this reality, and to play an active role in dismantling the systems of oppression that perpetuate these inequities. We are dedicating ourselves to learning, listening, and humbling ourselves in the face of all that we do not know or understand. If you have worked with us in any capacity, as a client or a partner in the community, we deeply value your feedback. If you have ideas, thoughts, or experiences you'd like to share with us, we want to hear them. To provide feedback and share your ideas, email info@pwcboulder.com
We are engaged in the following practices as a means to begin learning and growing:
1) CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION: As a team, the PWCB will continue to educate ourselves on the reality of black lives in America, including the lives of Black Mothers. We will engage in continued professional development and education around the impact of racism on women and families of color.
2) IMMEDIATE STAFF TRAINING IN DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: Our team is planning a training and workshop in diversity and inclusion for August. We will follow this training up with regular conversations and clinic assessments on growth in these areas.
3) PERSONAL ANTI-RACISM WORK: We are holding our individual and collective selves accountable to taking regular action towards antiracism in our homes and communities.
4) COMMUNITY COLLABORATION: The PWCB is actively pursuing opportunities in our community to connect with, learn FROM, and provide safe space for mothers of color.
5) STAFF DIVERSITY: The PWCB is committed to expanding our team to include a wider spectrum of diverse identities and pErspectives, so that we can better serve our community.
Respectfully yours,
Kate Kripke, LCSW, PMH-C Founder, Director, and Psychotherapist The Postpartum Wellness Center of Boulder
Emily Horowitz, LPC Clinical Director, Training Coordinator, and Psychotherapist The Postpartum Wellness Center of Boulder