Rooted in love, the St. Joseph Fund’s (SJF) Black and Indigenous Birth Justice Collaborative is grounded in the belief that birth work is sacred, community-led and vital to the wellbeing of families and communities. SJF’s work in Montana reflects its commitment to healing-centered capacity building by supporting Native American leaders, doulas, health care partners and community-based organizations working to advance birth justice and improve maternal health outcomes.
The collaborative is shaped by relationships and guided by the wisdom and lived experience of Native communities. SJF partners with organizations including the Western Montana Area Health Education Center, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies of Montana and the Montana Consortium of Urban Indian Health, alongside Native American community leaders and advisors. Together, these partners are strengthening culturally rooted, community-informed approaches to maternal health care that honor Indigenous knowledge, expand support for Indigenous and community-based doulas and promote safer, more respectful care for pregnant and parenting people.
At its heart, this work aims to restore dignity, deepen trust and foster conditions where families can thrive. By investing in collaboration, leadership and community power, the work helps build a future in which birth is supported with care, cultural connection and love. In this way, the intiative embodies SJFs mission to express Christ's healing ministry by partnering to elevate vibrant communities.
