MEET
ADJOA JONES
Birth Equity Unit Chief/AAIMM Prevention Initiative Programs Director, Doula, CLES, Public Health Leader, Black Maternal/Infant Health and Reproductive Justice Advocate and Systems Change Agent
Adjoa Jones begin her career in public health with the L.A. County Department of Health Services (DHS) as a Student Professional Worker. During her tenure with the Immunization Program, a fellow colleague recommended her for a Community Health Worker position with Great Beginnings for Black Babies, which subsequently led to the beginning of her work with women, children and their families.
Simultaneously, she received her BS in Health Science-Health Care Administration from CSU Dominguez Hills, and at the height of the pandemic received her MBA in Nonprofit Management at the American Jewish University, while also becoming a Certified Lactation Education Specialist and Doula.
Adjoa currently serves as the Birth Equity Unit Chief/African American Infant and Maternal Mortality (AAIMM) Prevention Initiative Director at Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Programs of the Health Promotion Bureau within the L.A. County Department of Public Health (DPH). She is the visionary of the AAIMM Community Action Team (CAT) model and founding lead of the first in L.A. County – the South LA/South Bay AAIMM CAT, which was developed in 2018 to address the high rates of mortality/morbidity for Black mothers/birthing persons and their infants.
Ms. Jones has worked within DPH and DHS for the past 26 years, serving in various programs to improve the health and wellness of women, men, children and their families throughout the County. As well, she has volunteered with local CBOs in her community, including 25 years in service to a women/girls advocacy organization in L.A. Adjoa is an alumni of the Beatriz Soliz Policy Institute with the Women’s Foundation of California, where in 2019-2020 while on the L.A. County Health Justice Team co-developed a Doula Board motion to improve the health and birth outcomes of Black women and babies, locally, regionally and statewide.
Also, she has received numerous service awards, some of which include the Stratiscope 2021 Impact Makers to Watch Award, the 2021 Sister Circle honor from Assembly member Sydney Kamlager, the 2021 Outstanding Community Service Award from the L.A. County Department of Mental Health Service Area 6 Clergy and the Maternal Mental Health Now 2023 Perinatal Mental Health Champion Award.
Finally, Adjoa is a former teen mother, proud Mama, grandmother, daughter, family member and friend to many.