Philadelphia Health Equity Conference to Address Neonatal

The event provides professional training to improve maternal and neonatal care outcomes for Black preemie families.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Babies

Gouache-painted illustration of a delicate, hand-knitted baby blanket, evoking a sense of care and support in a clinical setting. — The annual Black Maternal Health and Neonatal Equity Conference convenes in Philadelphia on November 17 to address systemic racial disparities in perinatal care. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Philadelphia will host the fifth annual Black Maternal Health and Neonatal Equity Conference on November 17, 2026. The event focuses on training for medical professionals to reduce racial health disparities in neonatal care for preemie families.

Why it matters

The organization behind the event, Once Upon A Preemie, Inc., works to eliminate racial disparities in maternal and neonatal health. By training staff at hospitals, they aim to standardize quality care and better support families experiencing premature births.

A case study from a Lubbock, Texas hospital showed breastfeeding rates for Black mothers improved within 30 days of staff completing the group's equity training. The nonprofit, founded in 2020, aims to eventually reach 1 million Black preemie families.

The players

Once Upon A Preemie, Inc.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing racial and health equity training for medical professionals serving NICU families.

Jenné Johns

The founder of Once Upon A Preemie, Inc. and former Director of Health Disparities at a Medicaid managed care organization.

The details

Once Upon A Preemie, Inc. conducts racial and health equity training to help healthcare providers implement standardized measures in perinatal and neonatal units. The organization's model centers on educating staff to identify and mitigate bias in clinical settings. This approach mirrors support systems Jenné Johns developed after her son, born at 26 weeks, required 77 days of care in a neonatal intensive care unit.

The nonprofit organization was founded in 2020.
The fifth annual conference takes place on November 17, 2026.

The Home Front

This conference highlights the growing focus on standardizing equitable care across neonatal units to improve outcomes for Black preemie families. It builds on documented trends in hospital management aimed at reducing systemic disparities in maternal and neonatal health services.

Families navigating a NICU stay can seek both virtual and in-person support options provided by advocacy organizations. If you are preparing for a potential premature birth, consult with your care team about the hospital's specific protocols for neonatal health equity.

The takeaway

The upcoming conference emphasizes the critical role of hospital staff training in improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Families can advocate for equitable care by asking NICU providers about their training in racial health disparities and support programs.