Community Strategies to Advance Reproductive Justice and Equity (CARE) Lab led by Dr. Brittany D. Chambers seeks to understand how racism shapes the lives of Black and Indigenous women and birthing people, developing meaningful ways to measure both interpersonal and structural racism in effort to inform interventions and policies to advance Black maternal health.
Through research, policy, and advocacy, the CARE Lab aims to dismantle systemic racism by creating interventions that drive lasting change. We believe that knowledge should not only be produced within academic institutions but also shaped by the expertise of communities most affected. In response, our approach to research is to train community researchers to be a part of the research team and take part in designing and implementing research studies that advance reproductive health equity.
Our work is guided by Black Mama’s Matter Alliance Principles to Reproductive Justice Research. Aligned with these principles, the CARE Lab employs the following: (1) Recognize and Respect the Rights of Black Mamas; (2) Understand the Historical, Sociocultural, Political and Economic Contexts in Which Black Mamas Live Their Lives; (3) Invest in Black Women as Researchers; (4) Fund and Conduct Ethical Research that Benefits Black Mamas; (4) Honor and Commit to Community Engagement Through the Entire Research Process; (5) Include Health Equity and Social Justice as Key Themes in Research with Black Mamas.
The CARE Lab strives to prioritize community voices and partnerships, ensuring that measures of racism, policies, and interventions are relevant, responsive, and led by those most impacted.