SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Willie Preston passed a measure through the Senate to expand implicit bias training for health care workers in Illinois.

“I am proud to lead the charge in implementing essential implicit bias training in health care surrounding maternal health risks associated with marginalized communities in particular Black communities,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related cause of deaths than white women. I will always advocate for every woman in Illinois to receive adequate, respectful, and dignified health care regardless of their background.”

House Bill 2517 would expand implicit bias training for health care workers in Illinois to include training on potential maternal health risk factors associated with marginalized communities with increased mortality rate.

Under Preston’s measure, the course would include education on current statistics about pregnancy-related death for all racial and ethnic groups, potential risk factors associated with women that are a part of a marginalized racial or ethnic group that has increased maternal mortality rates, and medical care plans and programs that have been demonstrated to successfully decrease maternal mortality rates and complications before and after pregnancy.

“This bill is the first step in taking collective action to ensure that we support the future of our daughters and their daughters,” said Preston. “Protecting maternal health care is about simple human rights – and we must protect the rights of all mothers.”

House Bill 2517 passed the Senate and awaits further consideration.