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Promoting Policies that Positively Impact the Health of Black Women & Girls

At BWHI, we are in this fight with you—every single day. We know the weight of these times, the way policies are being used to target our rights, our bodies, and our families. We see the barriers being built to restrict our access to healthcare, to silence our voices at the ballot box, and to undermine the economic security of our communities. But let us be clear: we are undeterred.

This is not just about policies on paper—this is about our lives. And while those in power may try to push us back, we are standing firm, pushing forward, and demanding better. The work we do isn’t just advocacy, it’s a commitment to protecting and uplifting Black women and our families. Our policy pillars are not just ideals—they are the foundation of our relentless quest for a world that is fair for all.

We are rallying for you. We are fighting for your health, your vote, your rights, and your future. Because when we stand together, no policy, no law, and no politician can erase our power.

Young Woman testifying in Congress

Our Policy Pillars

Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care

Healthy Families and Children First

Equitable Governance and Relationships

Employment/Education Justice and Equity

Technology Access and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE REPORT: Water, Health and Equity

This report was released in collaboration with the Clean Water for All Coalition, PolicyLink and the National Resource Defense Council. It offers insight as to why low-income communities and African Americans carry the disproportionate burden of climate change and deteriorating water infrastructure.

Download the Report
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE REPORT: Water, Health and Equity

How to Advocate for Your Health

  • Speak to your employer about health care services to cover in insurance plans
  • Talk about health care issues you care about on social media
  • Tell your story! Have you overcome a health challenge or want politicians and others to know how an illness have impacted you or your family, let us know. We’d love to share your story.

Policies impacting Black women

Health care coverage:

Policies to repeal the ACA will result in Black women losing access to affordable, quality maternity care, preventative services, and other essential health benefits. These policies could result in more Black women dying or suffering from avoidable diseases and conditions, going without necessary health care, or incurring significant medical debt.

Maternal Health

Policies to improve the maternal health outcomes experienced by Black women. Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications and 3-4 times more likely to suffer from severe disability resulting from childbirth compared to White women. These policies will improve the preconception health of Black women, as well as prevent the avoidable deaths of thousands of pregnant Black women.

POLICY WINS FOR BLACK WOMEN’S HEALTH

Breast Cancer
New York State and Texas private insurers must cover 3-D mammograms with no out-of-pocket costs (regulation, A. 5677, HB 1036).

  • New York State regulation: (February 2017) Insurers must cover medically necessary 3-D mammograms without co-pays, coinsurance or deductibles.
  • • Nationally, 6,063 Black women died from breast cancer in 2013. Black women have a 43% higher breast cancer death rate, are diagnosed at a much later stage, have a higher incidence of more aggressive breast cancers, and lower breast cancer survival rates.
  • Black women tend to have dense breast tissue, which poses a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Dense breast tissue also makes it more difficult to detect breast cancer using traditional, older screening technology.
  • 3-D mammograms can more accurately detect breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue, reducing unnecessary callbacks for more tests and late diagnoses, which are stressful for patients and increase health care costs.

Reproductive Health

New York State private insurers must cover the ACA’s 10 Essential Health Benefits, “medically necessary” abortions, and the dispensing of up to 12 months of a contraceptive without a co-payment (regulations).

  • • Black women are more likely than their White counterparts to experience an unintended pregnancy because they are more likely to have difficulty paying for and accessing contraceptives and abortion services.
  • When Black women have access to affordable abortion services and contraceptives, they can achieve higher levels of educational and career advancement, and reduce the likelihood of economic insecurity by the prevention of unintended pregnancies.

Policy Statements