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Rising Cases of Congenital Syphilis in Newborns Highlight Need for Timely Testing and Treatment

By Breanna Reeves | Black Voice News Cases of syphilis in newborns in the U.S. continue to rise, according to a recent report issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report emphasized a tenfold increase in cases in 10 years with a total of 3,761 cases of congenital syphilis in 2022 compared […]
The post Rising Cases of Congenital Syphilis in Newborns Highlight Need for Timely Testing and Treatment first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 years ago

November 20, 2023

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By Breanna Reeves | Black Voice News

Cases of syphilis in newborns in the U.S. continue to rise, according to a recent report issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report emphasized a tenfold increase in cases in 10 years with a total of 3,761 cases of congenital syphilis in 2022 compared to about 335 cases in 2012.

“The congenital syphilis crisis in the United States has skyrocketed at a heartbreaking rate,” said CDC Chief Medical Officer DR. Debra Houry in a press release. “We’re calling on healthcare providers, public health systems, and communities to take additional steps to connect mothers and babies with the care they need.”

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is caused by bacteria and is spread through sexual contact. The infection evolves over four stages: primary, secondary, latent and tertiary, where symptoms and signs can progress.

Symptoms of syphilis in the primary stage include sores and can progress in the secondary stage to multiple sores and rashes. In the latent stage, there are no visible symptoms and without treatment, syphilis can exist in the body for years, according to the CDC.

“Syphilis is sometimes referred to as ‘the Great Pretender’ because symptoms can often appear like other diseases throughout the first stages,” according to a statement from San Bernardino County’s Department of Public Health. “However, syphilis should be included in testing for STDs, especially since symptoms can go away on their own but create other complications later.”

Congenital syphilis is a disease that is the result of a mother with syphilis passing the infection to the baby during pregnancy. Syphilis during pregnancy can result in miscarriages, stillbirth and infant death among other long-term medical issues. In 2022, 231 stillbirths and 51 infant deaths were reported to the CDC.

The CDC’s report found that nearly nine in 10 cases of newborn syphilis in 2022 could have been prevented “with timely testing and treatment during pregnancy.” More than half of cases were among people who tested positive, but never received adequate or timely treatment.

Roughly 40% of cases occurred in mothers who were not in prenatal care. In an emailed statement, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) noted that “maternal risk factors associated with congenital syphilis in California include a lack of or late prenatal care, substance use, experiencing homelessness, a previous history of syphilis, and incarceration in the previous twelve months.”

One important risk factor for contracting syphilis is where people live. Some counties have higher rates of syphilis among reproductive-age women than others. Other factors that contribute to the rising cases of syphilis include social and economic factors that have created barriers to high quality prenatal care and ongoing declines in prevention, infrastructure and resources, explained Bethan Swift, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Fellow.

Swift works with the Riverside County Department of Public Health. In July, the department issued a public health advisory regarding “concerning syphilis trends” and the national shortage of Bicillin-LA, an antibiotic used to treat syphilis and other bacterial infections. Riverside County reported 42 cases of congenital syphilis in 2021, which represented a 55.6% increase in cases since 2019.

In San Bernardino County, congenital syphilis has primarily impacted Hispanic/Latino infants, Non-Hispanic white infants, and Non-Hispanic Black or African American infants, according to the County Department of Public Health.

According to the CDC, California had the 11th highest congenital syphilis rate of all states in 2021. Thirty-seven of California’s 61 local health jurisdictions reported at least one case of congenital syphilis in 2021. The CDPH reported congenital syphilis cases increased from 33 cases in 2012 to 528 cases in 2021.

In 2022, there were 615 congenital syphilis cases reported to CDPH. The highest congenital syphilis rates were among those who identify as American Indian/Alaska native (941.3 cases per 100,000 live births) and African American (383.6/100,000), compared to Hispanic populations (173/100,000) and white populations (133.42/100,000).

In an effort to address congenital syphilis cases, the CDPH’s Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Control Branch has expanded syphilis screening recommendations for the prevention of congenital syphilis. Additional recommendations include at least one screen for syphilis for all sexually active people who could become pregnant, with additional screening for those at increased risk.

“Ensuring syphilis screening among pregnant people (and timely treatment if positive) is a first step toward prevention of mother to child transmission of syphilis,” according to CDPH.

In order to address the increase in congenital syphilis, an expansion of adequate services must occur to ensure that more people are accessing prenatal care and are getting screened, as well as getting prenatal care earlier, before the third trimester. Expansion also includes implementing syphilis screenings for people who are or could become pregnant in other settings like jails and homeless encampments.

This article is published as part of the Commonwealth Health Equity Reporting Fellowship.

The post Rising Cases of Congenital Syphilis in Newborns Highlight Need for Timely Testing and Treatment appeared first on Black Voice News.

The post Rising Cases of Congenital Syphilis in Newborns Highlight Need for Timely Testing and Treatment first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled

BLACKPRESS USA NEWSWIRE — “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”
The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

5 days ago

June 8, 2026

Oakland Post

By National Women’s Law Center

The National Women’s Law Center released its annual State Child Care Assistance Policies report, finding that the number of children placed on waiting lists for federally funded child care assistance nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 — and that number has only continued to grow.

The report serves as a key resource for state lawmakers, advocates, and policymakers by tracking state child care assistance policies and identifying where states are strengthening support for families and early educators — or falling behind.

“This deeply troubling increase in the number of children on child care waiting lists is the result of a failure to invest in this crucial sector,” said Karen Schulman, senior director of state child care policy and author of the report. “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”

Key findings in the report related to waiting lists for child care assistance include:

• 17 states had waiting lists or a freeze on intake for child care assistance in February 2025, up from 13 states in February 2024.

• Approximately 106,700 children nationwide were added to waiting lists between February 2024 and February 2025, bringing the total to 225,500 children in February 2025 — a 90 percent increase compared to February 2024.

• The numbers climbed even further between February 2025 and summer/fall 2025, with more than 175,000 additional children added to state waiting lists in just a few months — a 78 percent increase.

• At least seven states newly began placing families on waiting lists or freezing intake, while at least 10 additional states saw their waiting lists grow, after February 2025.

The report also includes state-by-state data on key child care assistance policies, including income eligibility limits, parent copayments, provider payment rates, and eligibility policies for parents searching for work.

Click the link to learn more: Warning Signs: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2025.

The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy

ROLLING OUT — Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport.
The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

6 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

The seven-time major champion read frustration, not a real goodbye, in the world No. 1’s words

By David Kesiena | Rolling Out

When the world’s top-ranked player said she wanted to walk away from the sport, Venus Williams chose empathy over alarm.

Aryna Sabalenka’s blunt remark after her French Open quarterfinal collapse rattled plenty of fans, but Williams heard something different in it. The seven-time Grand Slam champion treated the comment as the raw reaction of a hurting athlete rather than a serious signal about her future.

The collapse that triggered the comment

Sabalenka looked headed for a routine win over Diana Shnaider. She took the opening set 6-3 and built a commanding lead in the second, climbing to 4-1 and later serving for the match at 5-4 while sitting just two points from victory.

Then everything unraveled. Shnaider stormed back to steal the second set 7-5 and bageled the world No. 1 in the third, with Sabalenka dropping 12 of the final 13 games in gusty conditions that reached around 26 mph. The 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 result sent Shnaider into her first Grand Slam semifinal and extended Sabalenka’s long wait for a maiden Roland Garros title.

In the aftermath, Sabalenka did not soften her feelings. She told reporters she had no thoughts and no emotions left and felt like quitting on the spot. She described being stuck in a deep, dark mental hole during the match, unable to find her way back.

What Venus Williams said about Sabalenka

Williams reacted with understanding. She admitted the moment made her sad and said she had been swept up in Sabalenka’s emotions, feeling a surge of empathy for her. She praised the Belarusian for laying everything bare on court, where every feeling shows.

Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport. Rather than scold her, Williams offered a gentle observation about the rhythm of professional tennis. She suggested players might benefit from a little more time to gather themselves before stepping in front of the cameras, a quiet acknowledgment that athletes are routinely asked to dissect painful defeats before the sting has faded.

Sabalenka walks it back

The story did not end on that bleak note. Within days, Sabalenka signaled she was not actually quitting, framing the press-conference outburst as heat-of-the-moment honesty rather than a plan. At the time of the loss she had also left the door open, saying she would see how she felt in a few days and hoped to get back on track mentally. The walk-back lined up with how Williams had read the situation from the start.

It is not the first time a Paris quarterfinal has pushed Sabalenka to her limit. In 2024 she exited at the same stage and skipped her press conference entirely because of illness, with the tour later releasing her quotes on her behalf. The pattern underscores how heavily this particular tournament has weighed on her despite deep runs in recent years.

For now, attention shifts to the grass. Wimbledon offers Sabalenka a quick chance to reset, and a strong showing there would turn this French Open meltdown into a footnote rather than a turning point.

Originally published by Rolling Out — https://rollingout.com.

The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue

THE CAROLINIAN — Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.
The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

6 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

By Judaea Ingram | Special to The Carolinian

RALEIGH, N.C. – Music filled the air as families danced through the crowd, children gathered around activity stations, and community members explored wellness resources from local organizations. Black-owned businesses lined the streets while people stopped for chair massages, conversations, and moments of connection inside the wellness suite.

At the center of the event stood a simple but powerful reminder:

“You Matter.”

For Darkness RISING, those words represent far more than a slogan. They reflect the organization’s mission to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community while creating spaces centered on healing, honesty, and hope.

Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.

The organization hosts a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including block parties, wellness workshops, mixers, kickoff events, community classes, and Darkness RISING: Live — a free annual arts and wellness festival now celebrating its ninth year.

The festival combines entertainment with healing-centered resources, featuring live music, dancing, singing, food trucks, Black vendors, children’s activities, mental health resources, wellness spaces, and opportunities for open conversations about mental health.

While the events may feel celebratory on the surface, organizers say the deeper purpose is creating safe spaces where people can feel comfortable discussing mental health without fear of judgment.

Darkness RISING also provides free nationwide resources, including a Black Mental Health Resource Packet, a Black Mental Health Provider Database, and its “Find Me a Therapist” initiative, which helps connect individuals with culturally competent care.

The organization’s work is rooted in addressing longstanding inequities that continue impacting mental health access within Black communities.

Historically, segregation, redlining, racial discrimination, incarceration, poverty, and unequal healthcare access have contributed to higher rates of behavioral health challenges while simultaneously limiting access to proper treatment and support. Darkness RISING approaches those issues through what organizers describe as a transformative justice lens, focusing on healing rather than punishment and creating equitable wellness opportunities for marginalized communities.

Its REBUILD program specifically supports justice-involved and formerly incarcerated people of color through free therapy and wellness support, while the REBUILD Youth program focuses on young people impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences, also known as ACEs.

For Rudolph, therapy became life-changing after decades of incarceration and years of rejection after returning home.

“Came home in 2015, started my own computer company, investing in real estate, did the normal thing and got some jobs here and there and was met with rejection after rejection and people telling me I am not a good person,” Rudolph shared. “Even had a rejection in church.”

He said one of the hardest battles became overcoming the mental barriers created during incarceration.

“I got in touch with a couple of friends, and they explained to me how I had to get over the mental hurdles and get rid of the way my prison mindset was in order to survive and become successful,” he said.

Rudolph later moved to North Carolina hoping for a fresh start, but the struggle continued.

“Things were looking bad,” he said. “Could not get a job. The struggle was real.”

Eventually, therapy and support through organizations like Darkness RISING helped begin his healing process. He said working alongside other justice-involved men through therapy gave him the ability to rebuild mentally while finding community with people who understood his experiences.

Stories like Rudolph’s reflect the foundation behind Darkness RISING’s mission: ensuring people feel seen, supported, and worthy of healing regardless of their background or circumstances.

Community members who attend the organization’s events often describe them as emotionally transformative.

Some participants say Darkness RISING encouraged them to seek therapy for the first time, while others say the organization gave them a safe space to openly discuss struggles they previously kept hidden.

“I have been encouraged by the beautiful, generous, brave and open individuals who come together and use their talents to create art, share personal experiences and provide hope to those who may be struggling with mental health,” one participant shared.

By combining art, wellness, education, and community outreach, Darkness RISING continues changing how mental health conversations happen within the Black community.

Not through silence.

But through healing, honesty, connection, and joy.

Originally published by The Carolinian — https://caro.news.

The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.