$250M Initiative Rescues Seattle's Native Women's Health Programs

In a major boost for women's health, the Seattle Indian Health Board has received substantial funding through a $250 million global initiative launched last year. The organization was among over 80 groups worldwide selected to receive grants ranging from $1 million to $5 million.

The initiative, called Action for Women's Health, is funded by Pivotal, a group of impact organizations founded by Melinda French Gates, and managed by Lever for Change. It aims to improve mental and physical health outcomes for women, with a particular focus on underserved communities.

For the Seattle Indian Health Board, this funding comes at a critical time. Several of its key services, including programs supporting pregnant women and survivors of intimate partner violence, were at risk due to federal funding cuts. "This funding is going to save our entire family services division," said Esther Lucero, the organization's president and CEO.

The board plans to use the grants to strengthen maternal and behavioral health services, address intimate partner violence, and meet the needs of pregnant and parenting women experiencing substance use disorders. This is especially crucial given the severe health disparities faced by American Indian and Alaska Native women in the state, who are 8.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related conditions than non-Hispanic white women.

The Urban Indian Health Institute's survey also found that 94% of Native women in Seattle reported being raped or coerced into sex at some point in their lives. "The health and wellbeing of Indigenous women are at the heart of our community's wellness," Lucero said, emphasizing the importance of this philanthropic support.