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Maternal Health

Our Track Record

Compared to other high-income countries, the United States has the worst maternal health outcomes and none are more affected than Black and Indigenous women. Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women despite socioeconomic status, insurance status, and geographic location. The Network believes that the best way to close this gap is to wholeheartedly support the grassroots organizations already working on the ground to help pregnant and post-partum people. We’re building upon the work we’ve done for several decades through our Raising Women’s Voices program (RWV), which provided thousands of dollars in funding and hundreds of hours of technical assistance to maternal health groups across the nation from 2007 – 2022. The Network continues the work we started with RWV by leading the HEALTH Program. The HEALTH program launched in 2023, and is dedicated to uplifting grassroots organizations that seek to improve reproductive and maternal health outcomes for our marginalized and underserved communities.

What’s Next

The Network will continue to support organizations working with pregnant and post-partum people on the ground via the HEALTH program. We’ll also be working hard on Capitol Hill to advance the following policy priorities:

  • Extending Medicaid coverage for all post-partum people across the country from 60 days to one year. Of note, Medicaid covers 42% of births every year. 
  • Expanding access to telehealth and home-monitoring technology for pregnant and postpartum people.
  • Expanding access to doula and midwifery services. The Network supports initiatives to expand education options, reduce physician supervision requirements, and improve payment models for midwives.
  • Securing robust, comprehensive paid family and medical leave for all, because parents should not be forced to choose between caring for their families and keeping their jobs.
  • Addressing Obstetric unit closures across the United States. More than half of all rural counties do not have a hospital that can provide obstetric care, contributing to the maternal health crisis.

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