Culture is medicine: Promoting Maternal and Child Health with Dr. Jennifer Richards

Dr. Jenny Richards, an Assistant Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health, shares how Indigenous strengths-based research counters harmful narratives around coming of age, menstruation, and toxic masculinity. “Reinforcing how much social support we have in our culture, in our ceremonies, in the way we raise our children [...] is protective in and of itself”.

Jennifer Richards, PhD, MPH (Diné/Lakota/Taos) is an Assistant Scientist with the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health. Since 2013, Dr. Richards has led various family and child health (FCH) initiatives, including early childhood home visiting, maternal and infant health surveillance, teen pregnancy prevention, preconception health promotion, and fatherhood empowerment. Dr. Richards’ research interests also include the role of Indigenous doulas in preventing maternal mortality and improving birth outcomes in tribal communities. Jennifer obtained both her MPH in Maternal and Child Health (2008) and Ph.D. in Health Behavior Health Promotion (2020) from the University of Arizona.

Resources:

Center for American Indian Health

The Asdzáán Be’eena’ (Female Pathways Program) 

Respecting the Circle of Life Curriculum

Azhe’é Bidziil (Strong Fathers Program)

--

Indigenae theme song: “Nothing Can Kill My Love For You” by Semiah 

Instagram: @semiah.smith

Find her on Youtube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.