Black History Month: Raising Voices to Advance Equity in Public Health

Published on February 13, 2026

Metro Health is working on several efforts to improve health for Black communities. The examples below are based on early FY25 data and ongoing program reports.

• Through the Community Alliance for Results in Equity (CARE) Initiative, Metro Health is supporting community-led programs that work to reduce health gaps and improve access to care. These efforts focus on Black and Native American maternal and mental health, as data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System indicate that these communities experience the highest rates of pregnancy-related mortality.
• The Reproductive Justice Fund helped support 30 doula certifications in FY25. This increased access to culturally responsive care for pregnant and birthing parents.
• In FY25, Clinician Ambassadors trained 586 medical providers on Respectful Care. Three months later, 56% of surveyed providers said they had made lasting changes to how they provide care.
• The Health Equity Network is working to improve food access using a Results Based Accountability framework to improve food security. Participating organizations can select either a Universal Goal to decrease food insecurity from 14.6% to 10% for all Bexar County residents by 2029, or a Targeted Goal to decrease food insecurity from 24% to 19% for all Black Bexar County residents by 2029.
• Through the federal End the HIV Epidemic grant, Metro Health supports BEAT AIDS in providing HIV screenings, sexual health education, and connections to care for Black women.
• Metro Health facilitates meetings of the local African American Health Disparities Council. This community-focused group reviews data, identifies priority health concerns and helps guide actions to address ongoing health inequities affecting Black residents

Some of this information is preliminary. These results show early progress and will be updated publicly as data and reports are finalized. Health equity and social justice are also key priorities in the SA Forward strategic plan. This shows that equity work is part of Metro Health’s long-term dedication, not just a one-time effort. Key awareness dates help us share data, offer resources, and continue conversations with the community, including:

• Black History Month (February)
• National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (February)
• National Minority Health Month (April)
• Black Maternal Health Week (April)
• Black Maternal Mental Health Week (July)
• World AIDS Day (December)