Irth Launched 2023 About Irth (as in Birth, but we dropped the B for bias) is a technology-based platform that enables Black and brown birthing people, doulas and family members to leave prenatal, birthing, postpartum and pediatric reviews of healthcare providers and institutions on the app. Doula ambassadors are hired to engage with community in promoting the app on the ground to birthing people who have lived experience in interaction with the maternal healthcare sector. In their role, doulas receive group therapy, professional development and personal development support to acknowledge the lack of systemic support doulas often receive. The qualitative experiences shared by local community members are turned into quantitative data and utilized as an early warning detection on practice behaviors that lead to harm. Hospital partners put together working groups to create strategic improvement plans while driving transparency and community accountability within healthcare systems. Minnesota is the fourth state to implement Irth, building on Irth’s partnerships in California, Pennsylvania and Michigan as well as their perinatal quality collaborative work in New York City where Irth is providing robust patient experience data to over 30 hospitals. Over the next four years in the Twin Cities, Irth will gather 2,000 patient reviews and develop partnerships with four local hospitals. This will lead to a significant decrease in harmful hospital practices and improved maternal healthcare outcomes for Black and brown patients. Founder Kimberly Seals Allers National Headquarters Bay Shore, NY Email Contact [email protected] Website irthapp.com Irth’s Local Goals In the first four years 2,000 patient reviews 50% reduction in harmful hospital practices 20% decrease in negative reviews What Our Community is Saying “I am proud that Hennepin Healthcare is the very first hospital system to partner with Irth. As the Twin Cities’ largest safety-net hospital system, it is our duty to act with a sense of urgency in response to the Black maternal health crisis. We are committed to actively changing the systems and structures that perpetuate racism in our healthcare system and the opportunity to partner with Irth and GreenLight Twin Cities will help us move in that direction.” Dr. Nneka Sederstrom Chief Health Equity Officer at Hennepin Healthcare “As someone who has spent the last two decades working to uplift and share local Black histories and facilitate intergenerational story sharing, I know how important it is for Black and brown birthing people to have a platform to share their experiences and change local narratives. This partnership with Irth will offer a crucial opportunity to leverage the power of community voice to create change. “ Dr. Catherine Squires Senior Fellow in Residence – African American Leadership Forum “In one of the healthiest states in the country, Black and Indigenous moms are dying at a rate that far exceeds their share of the population. These deaths are preventable. Through their partnership with GreenLight Fund Twin Cities, I am excited that Irth has the opportunity to lead the way in implementing change within our communities to alter this trajectory.” Dr. Rachel Hardeman Founder & Director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity at the University of Minnesota and Blue Cross Endowed Professor of Health and Racial Equity “In the fight to build a state where everyone is truly safe, Irth offers an incredible pathway towards the prioritization and protection of Black and brown birthing people and families. As a Selection Advisory Council member for GreenLight Fund Twin Cities, I am proud of this partnership with Irth and thrilled by the opportunity to put Black and brown maternal health at the center of our work.” Sen. Clare Verbeten Minnesota State Director, The Partnership & Minnesota State Senator “Our birth community and its supporters deserve to have the kind of birth experiences they want. The Irth app will help us express concerns and positive experiences that families are having with care providers and help us understand how we can improve what is going on, celebrate the victories and address what needs to be changed. “ Akhmiri Sekhr-Ra Chief Family Development Officer, Cultural Wellness Center Join our work in the Twin Cities We rely on champions and supporters who believe in the power and potential of community-driven change. Follow Us @GreenLightTWC Get In Touch
