DECEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER
MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE HOLIDAYS
The holidays are NOT always the most wonderful time of the year. Many people feel stress about spending too much money, too much (or too little) time with family, checking their lists, and making everything perfect. The following organizations offer tips to deal with holiday stress:
WHITE HOUSE MATERNAL HEALTH SUMMIT
On Tuesday, December 7, Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a Day of Action on Maternal Health, highlighting steps the federal government is taking to address maternal mortality. Of note, one recommendation specifically called for creating universal screening recommendations for maternal mental health conditions. Find additional information about the summit:
  • LINK to watch the summit.
  • LINK to Vice President Harris' remarks.
  • Learn more about the summit HERE.
MMHLA FOUNDER IS ELECTED TO OFFICE
Jamie Zahlaway Belsito, MMHLA's Founder and former Policy Director, recently won a special election to represent the 4th Essex District in the Massachusetts State House. Jamie -- who is the first Democrat to hold this seat in 168 years -- was sworn in to office on December 8 and is committed to addressing maternal mental health in her new role as an elected official. Learn more HERE.
Many congratulations from everyone at MMHLA! We are so proud of you, Jamie!
NEW STUDY CITES COST OF MATERNAL HEALTH
A new study from the Commonwealth Fund -- The High Costs of Maternal Morbidity Show Why We Need Greater Investment in Maternal Health -- spells out in detail the costs of maternal morbidity in the United States and why our country should invest in maternal health.
KEY TAKE-AWAY POINTS
  1. The U.S. has a maternal mortality ratio of 20 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, the worst among developed countries.
  2. Severe maternal morbidity in the U.S. doubled between 1998 and 2014.
  3. The cost of maternal morbidity for all births in 2019 is $32 billion.
  4. Maternal mental health conditions had the greatest cost ($18 billion).
Just a few points for comparison's sake:
  1. The cost to extend pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage for a full year postpartum is $8 billion over ten years, or $800 million each year. This would allow full coverage for an additional 720,000 people.
  2. The full cost for implementing all aspects of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus is $1 billion.
  3. The federal government currently spends less than $25 million a year on maternal mental health, compared to a societal cost of $18 billion.
So...options are to invest about $10 billion or pay $32 billion. Hmmm....
MILITARY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT:
DOULA AND LACTATION SUPPORT
The United States Military Health System (MHS) has launched a 5-year demonstration project to provide military mothers with support from certified labor doulas and lactation consultants. Approximately 100,000 babies are born each year through the MHS, so hundreds of women are likely to benefit from this project. Military mothers are at increased risk for experiencing MMH conditions for a variety of reasons, including distance from family of origin, being a 'single' parent if partner is deployed, and worry about the safety of family and friends who are deployed in harm's way.
Want to dig into a military manual? Learn more HERE.
RACIAL EQUITY CHALLENGE
The Office on Women's Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are hosting the Innovative Methods to Improve Postpartum Care for Black or African American and American Indian/Alaska Native Women Challenge. Learn more HERE.
  • Prizes will be awarded for innovative methods designed to improve postpartum care for Black or African American and American Indian/Alaska Native women enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
  • The emphasis will be on follow-up care for diabetes, postpartum depression and/or postpartum anxiety, hypertension, and substance use disorders.
  • Informational webinar is December 14, 2021 at 2 pm ET.
  • Submission deadline has been extended to January 31, 2022.
  • Cash prizes total $1.8 million.
PREGNANCY-RELATED MEDICAID EXTENSION
It's been a busy fall in the world of pregnancy-related Medicaid. At the federal level, the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act -- now awaiting Senate vote -- which would require all states to provide pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage for a full year postpartum. Meanwhile, some states have taken steps to extend pregnancy-related Medicaid insurance from 60 days to a full year postpartum.

Why is this so important?
  • Medicaid covers almost 50% of births in the United States, including 66% of births to Black women.
  • Ending pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage at 60 days postpartum leaves women uninsured at a medically-vulnerable time in their lives.
  • The peak onset of postpartum depression is 3-6 months postpartum, and the peak incidence of postpartum suicide is 6-9 months postpartum -- well after pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage has ended.
Interested in learning more about pregnancy-related Medicaid extension?

Check a BLOG post from Alyson Northrup of AMCHP,
an ARTICLE by Jamila Taylor of the Century Foundation, and MMHLA's FACT SHEET. 
New Jersey -- the first state to require screening for MMH conditions in 2006 -- recently extended pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage and issued this important statement:

Expanding postpartum insurance coverage
will not only improve health outcomes -- it will save lives.
NEW ONLINE PLATFORM ADDRESSES MMH
Check on Mom is a new program addressing maternal mental health by helping pregnant and postpartum moms:
  • Build a "mom team" of social support.
  • Create a maternal wellness plan.
  • Understand postpartum depression and other MMH conditions.
  • Receive personalized resources and inspirational content directly to their phones.
COVID-19: LESSONS IN PERINATAL PSYCHIATRY
For 25 years, colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital have met midday on Wednesday for clinical rounds to review cases in perinatal psychiatry and discuss important new scientific findings. At the start of the pandemic, Drs. Lee Cohen and Marlene Freeman started Virtual Rounds at the Center for Women's Mental Health so others could collaborate and learn about how to address maternal mental health during the pandemic.
Dr. Cohen has written two articles about perinatal psychiatry during the pandemic:
the first at the outset of the pandemic in April 2020, and the second in early December 2021, entitled Lessons Learned After 19 Months of COVID-19.
AWARD FOR MMH RESEARCH
The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, through its Graduate Medical Education Challenge Grant program, will provide funding for Improving Maternal and Child Outcomes Through Quality Perinatal Mental Healthcare. Drs. Jessica Vernon and Olivia Myrick will be developing and evaluating an evidence-based curriculum to equip OB-GYN trainees and junior faculty with the tools to screen and treat MMH conditions. Learn more HERE.
STOCKING STUFFERS FOR NEW PARENTS
Out of the Mouths of Babes:
A 31-Day Devotional For Moms
What About Us?
A New Parents' Guide To Safeguarding Your Relationship
Myself Again:
The PARENTS Postpartum Survival Guide
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen:
The Emotional Lives of Black Women
and one more for children...
The Little Blue Rocket Ship: A Story About Postpartum Depression is told by a boy who sees changes in his mom
after she has a baby. As the boy explores his own feelings and questions, he is reassured by his mom’s continued love for him.
Author Jessica Wendi Abel has lived experience with postpartum depression; when she became pregnant with her second child, she decided to write a book to explain to her 5-year old son about the changes their family could face. Learn more HERE.
MMHLA IS SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT
CONFERENCES AND ONGOING STUDIES
MMHLA's January newsletter will include information about:
  • Conferences in the fields of maternal-child health, mental health, and maternal mental health.
  • Ongoing studies in maternal mental health, especially those that are actively recruiting participants.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI) is hiring for several positions, including Director of Development; Director of Communications; and Health Policy and Research Associates. Learn more HERE.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hiring for several positions, including Public Relations Manager and Manager of Federal Policy. Learn more HERE.
CLASP is seeking to hire a new President / Executive Director as well as several policy analysts. Learn more HERE.
Perinatal Support Washington is seeking to fill several positions, including Warmline Program Specialist and therapists, trainers, and supervisors. Learn more HERE.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM MMHLA!
Madison Allen
Intern
Aminat Balogun
Project Manager
Mara Child
Operations Director
Suzanne Elliot
Social Media Manager
Adrienne Griffen
Executive Director
Swetha Kota
Intern
Allison Miessler
State Project Manager
Dagmawit Teka
Intern
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brenda Baffour
Jamie Belsito
Aimee Danielson
James Gelfand
Ariel Gonzalez
Lee Johnson III
Pooja Lakshmin
Meredith McCurry-Webb
Meghana Rao
Ellen Riddleberger
Katie Schubert
Terri Wright
PEACE

It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.

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Working with Policy Makers to Address Maternal Mental Health Conditions
Our vision is universal and equitable education, prevention, screening, and treatment for maternal mental health conditions during pregnancy and year following pregnancy.