Elizabeth Kravitz

Hello! I am an obstetrics and gynecology resident at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with an interest in perinatal health, specifically the impact of DHS/CPS and family separation on the maternal-neonatal dyad as a result of the urine drug testing and criminalization of the pregnant person. I am interested in understanding the short-term and long-term impact on maternal health as a result of family separation, including postpartum depression, delayed re-entry into the healthcare system/prenatal care in future pregnancies, and breakdown in the trust between physicians and patients. I have been interested in this work, and advocated for birthing families, for 4-5 years. I am interested in community-academic partnerships in order to lift the voices and share the stories of families that have been impacted by DHS/CPS involvement after receiving a drug test by providers and would like to address the issues of lack of informed consent and lack of clear communication on the impact of these tests. In terms of past CBPR experience, I have worked with a variety of community organizations in Texas on other human rights issues, such as the detention of undocumented children and pregnant people at ICE and ORR detention facilities. The ideal partner for me and my organization would be a community organization that wishes to use qualitative research and storytelling to inform their advocacy for women who have been impacted by criminalization of pregnancy based on race, ethnicity, drug use, socioeconomic status, or undocumented legal status. As a partner, you can expect me and my team to share the story of your community’s experience in a non-exploitive, non-extractive method, with a shared commitment in advocating for families that have been impacted by family separation perpetrated by the healthcare system.