FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY DAY
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021
MMHLA and the March of Dimes are hosting the
4th Maternal Mental Health Advocacy Day Thursday, March 4, 2021.

Advocacy efforts will focus on requesting additional appropriations (funding) for programs addressing maternal mental health.
Interested in participating in Advocacy Day? We are seeking individuals who can either meet virtually with members of Congress or follow up with calls, emails, and social media postings. Register HERE.
New to Advocacy? Want to Prepare for Advocacy Day?
Attend a 1-Hour Webinar
Advocacy 101: Become A Maternal Mental Health Advocate
Co-hosted with the March of Dimes
February 18, 2021 / 1-2 PM EST
Learn more HERE.
MEDICAID UPDATE
Medicaid covers almost 50% of births in the United States, including 66% of births to Black women. Pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage currently ends 60 days following pregnancy, potentially leaving thousands of women uninsured at a medically-vulnerable time in their lives. Many organizations have been advocating for extending pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 1 full year postpartum.
UPDATE #1: In late January, MACPAC (Medicaid and Chip Payment and Access Commission) recommended that Congress allow states to extend pregnancy-related Medicaid for eligible women for a full year following pregnancy, regardless of changes in income. MACPAC also recommended that the federal government should bear 100% of the cost of this extension. Read the MACPAC recommendations HERE.
UPDATE #2: This week, Congress introduced legislation that would give states the option to extend pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage from 60 days postpartum to a full year postpartum. While not as extensive as the MACPAC recommendation, this is a huge step forward for new mothers who might otherwise lose their insurance coverage at 60 days postpartum. Read the legislation HERE (p. 13).
AMCHP -- which has led efforts to extend pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage -- provides comments and a summary / analysis of this important legislation, which will:
  • Provide an option for states to extend Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum, which will streamline state efforts to achieve this policy.
  • Require full Medicaid benefits (i.e., not a slimmed down benefit package).
  • Apply to all postpartum individuals with Medicaid coverage regardless of eligibility pathway or health condition.
  • Apply to all postpartum individuals with CHIP coverage in those states that extend coverage to pregnant individuals under CHIP.
  • Does not include additional federal matching funds.
  • Sunset after 5 years.  
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
This week, members of Congress introduced the Black Maternal Mental Health Momnibus, a collection of bills to address the disproportionate impact of maternal mortality on Black women and other Women of Color. MMHLA, along with over 190 other organizations, endorse the Momnibus. Learn more HERE.
The Momnibus seeks to comprehensively address every dimension of the maternal health crisis in America, with legislation that will:

  1. Make critical investments in social determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes, like housing, transportation, and nutrition.
  2. Provide funding to community-based organizations that are working to improve maternal health outcomes and promote equity.
  3. Comprehensively study the unique maternal health risks facing pregnant and postpartum veterans and support VA maternity care coordination programs.
  4. Grow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure that every mom in America receives culturally congruent maternity care and support.
  5. Improve data collection processes and quality measures to better understand the causes of the maternal health crisis in the United States and inform solutions to address it.
  6. Support moms with maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
  7. Improve maternal health care and support for incarcerated moms.
  8. Invest in digital tools like telehealth to improve maternal health outcomes in underserved areas.
  9. Promote innovative payment models to incentivize high-quality maternity care and non-clinical perinatal support.
  10. Invest in federal programs to address the unique risks for and effects of COVID-19 during and after pregnancy and to advance respectful maternity care in future public health emergencies.
  11. Invest in community-based initiatives to reduce levels of and exposure to climate change-related risks for moms and babies.
  12. Promote maternal vaccinations to protect the health and safety of moms and babies.
Help raise awareness about the Momnibus
shared by the Black Maternal Health Caucus.
UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Postpartum Action Institute Workshop
Small workshop (max 6 attendees) utilizes innovative training to provide insights and information not taught in schools or conferences.
March 6-7, 2021 / Santa Barbara, CA
Learn more HERE.
North American Society for Psychosocial Obstetrics & Gynecology
Monthly Webinar Series: Novel Approaches to Applying the Biopsychosocial Systems Model to Women’s Health Care
March 11, 2021 / 7 PM EST
Learn more HERE.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Annual Conference: Resilience & Recovery, Research to Practice
March 18-19, 2021 / Virtual
Learn more HERE.
2020Mom Annual Forum
Theme: Redesigning Policy and Systems So All Mothers Can Thrive
March 24-26, 2021 / Virtual
Learn more HERE.
Group Peer Support
Facilitator Training
April 6 - 29, 2021 / Virtual
Learn more HERE.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Development Director
and
Communications Manager
2020Mom's culture is flexible, fast-paced, and family-oriented with all team members working remotely. Hours may fluctuate; some projects require working nights and weekends. Ideal candidates reside in CA, OR, WA, or AZ.
Learn more HERE.
Director, Division of State
and Community Health
The incumbent will oversee MCHB's largest investment—the Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, which is the public health system for America’s mothers, children and families. Deadline: Feb 26, 2021.
Learn more HERE.
Development Coordinator / Database Manager
The Development Coordinator / Database Manager will support development functions to secure funds that support science programs, policy initiatives, education, and communica-tions that further the mission of SWHR.
Learn more HERE.
"Without advocacy, vulnerable people cannot be heard...have no power...and are invisible."
Michelle Flynn, Qld Advocacy Incorporated
Working with Policymakers to Address Maternal Mental Health Conditions
MMHLA -- founded in 2018 -- is a nonpartisan 501(c)3 non-profit organization
dedicated to promoting the mental health of childbearing women in the United States
by advocating for universal education, screening, referral, and treatment
of postpartum depression and related maternal mental health (MMH) conditions.

Our vision is that all childbearing women in the United States will be educated about and screened for maternal mental health conditions and have access to resources for recovery.