LSU Doctoral Student Natasha Lee-Johnson Leading the Charge to Support Maternal Health in Louisiana

Baton Rouge, LA – The LSU School of Social Work is proud to spotlight Natasha M. Lee-Johnson, a doctoral student whose groundbreaking research is informing maternal health

and reproductive justice in Louisiana. Recently honored with the Society for Social Work and Research Doctoral Fellows Award, Lee-Johnson’s research, Black Maternal Resilience: A Mixed Method Study Exploring Perceived Risk and Reproductive Decision Making Among Black Women, focuses on preventative support for maternal health among Black women.

Lee-Johnson highlighted the need for a stronger social work presence in pregnancy care, noting that many women encounter a social worker for the first time when they are asked mental health or substance use questions at the hospital. “That can be shocking,” she explained. “Social work as a discipline hasn’t done much to disrupt the perception that social workers are just there to take children from families.” She emphasized the importance of changing this narrative to ensure that social workers are seen as sources of support rather than enforcement.

Lee-Johnson is also the first person in Louisiana to be named a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar. This is a prestigious fellowship that supports emerging leaders in health policy research. Through this program, she is working alongside national experts to develop policy-driven solutions that ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare.

Lee-Johnson expressed, “Policymakers don’t ask Black pregnant women how they’re navigating the system or what support they need. These stories are underexplored, and my research aims to illuminate them so we can engage decision-makers on real solutions.”

With a passion for healthcare, reproductive justice, and disability advocacy, Lee-Johnson’s work extends beyond academia. She is committed to translating research into real-world policy solutions that improve healthcare access and outcomes for Black women and people with disabilities.

Lee-Johnson sheds light on the lack of accessible maternal care in Baton Rouge, particularly in North Baton Rouge, where women must travel significant distances for prenatal services. “Women in North Baton Rouge are driving nearly to Prairieville just to get prenatal care,” she explained. She shared the story of a woman who lived beyond New Roads who had already experienced two miscarriages and was pregnant again. “When she thought she was losing her baby, she had to get in her car and drive herself all the way to Woman’s Hospital while actively miscarrying,” Natasha recalled. “That is unacceptable.”

Lee-Johnson’s work exemplifies the mission of the LSU School of Social Work—to foster research and advocacy that drive meaningful change in communities across Louisiana and beyond. As she continues her doctoral journey, she remains dedicated to shaping policies that ensure healthcare access for all.

 

---

ABOUT LSU SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

LSU School of Social Work offers multiple degree programs in Social Work and Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS), including an on campus Social Work doctoral program, on campus and online Master of Social Work, and an on campus Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Science in HDFS.

Learn more about the LSU School of Social Work PhD program

CONTACT

Ellen Tadman
School of Social Work
etadman@lsu.edu