2023 Annual Impact Report
Table of Contents:
TOPLINES
A very successful annual FORUM with nearly 900 participants, including an emphasis on the impacts of stress on early childhood development with keynote speaker Dr. Bruce Perry
The Federal government's implementation of the National Maternal Mental Health Task Force to which our Executive Director was appointed and which we championed through the TRIUMPH for New Moms Act
Reporting the first-ever national maternal depression screening rates, including hosting a webinar featuring the HEDIS measure developer, the National Committee for Quality Assurance
Development and release of the first county-level maps of population by MMH disorder risk and Perinatal Mental Health-Certified (PMH-C) provider ratios in the U.S. as well as the first report card, grading each state’s efforts to address maternal mental health in the U.S. This work was done in partnership with the Georgetown Milken School of Public Health and has garnered much-needed media attention including national coverage by CNN.
A Letter From the Board Chair and Executive Director
This year, we continued to catalyze the field of maternal mental health, and we changed our name from 2020 Mom to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health to reflect our work more clearly.
We are advancing policy solutions that support the integration of mental health services into obstetric settings and community-based care so women and families no longer fall through the cracks in our healthcare system and all have the chance to thrive.
In 2023, we continued to catalyze change through our core programs:
The Maternal Mental Health FORUM, our annual conference
State Policy Fellows (for non-profits and governments),
Federal legislative and agency policy monitoring, analysis, and advocacy
Development of in-depth issue briefs, and
Identifying and deploying legislative and regulatory policy solutions
In addition, we raised the bar this year by developing new data sets and reports:
With the support of Plum Organics, we released the U.S. Risk and Resource Map illustrating individual U.S. counties’ risk for maternal mental health disorders and the resources available to support mothers. The map highlighted that U.S. mothers are in great need of a village of providers and support which largely doesn’t exist. The map is designed to support advocacy organizations in developing the maternal mental health workforce in their counties and states.
Thanks to the contribution of a private donor and in partnership with The George Washington University’s Milken School of Public Health, we developed the inaugural Maternal Mental Health Report Card, which shows the U.S. earning a “D.” The report card caught the attention of many news outlets, including CNN.
Finally, we were incredibly proud to hear The Bridgespan Group named the Policy Center a “field catalyst” for our initial and ongoing work getting at the heart of gaps in maternal mental health care through cross-sector engagement, reporting on field progress, and advocacy.
As Bridgespan reports, field catalysts are working on “massive impact” in an ecosystem, which donors are less familiar with than traditional direct-service or pure advocacy organizations.
“Unlike the strategies of traditional direct-service or advocacy organizations, with which most donors may be familiar, field catalysts are not interested in massively growing their organizations or in scaling programs. Instead, field catalysts focus on massive impact by building, strengthening, and coordinating relationships across actors throughout the ecosystem.”
Funding Field Catalysts from Origins to Revolutionizing the World
You’ll see this catalytic work highlighted throughout this report, which is organized by “how” we do our work:
Co-Laboratory
Creating Critical Content
Commanding Action
Communities of Practice
In closing, if you haven’t read our strategic plan lately, we encourage you to. It will surely inspire and excite you about the possibilities for improving maternal mental health in America. You can find it here.
With gratitude and excitement,
Britt Newton, Board Chair
Joy Burkhard, MBA, Executive Director
| Policy is defined as: “A course or principle of action adopted or proposed by a government, party, business, or individual.” |
Mission, Vision, Values and Brand
Our Vision
A health care system that routinely detects and treats maternal mental health disorders for every mother, every time.
Our Mission
To close gaps in maternal mental health care.
Our Values
Innovation & Creativity
Courageousness & Urgency
Collaboration & Partnership
Empathy & Understanding
Excellence & High-Performance
Our New Branding
After much consideration and reflection by our board, team, and partners, we decided it was time to have a name and logo that more clearly reflects the work we do. In 2023 we unveiled our new name and brand, the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. Our logo includes a center circle that reflects both mothers and families and the Policy Center itself. The center is surrounded by arches and circles that reflect the cross-sector partners we are engaging to close gaps in maternal mental health.
Our 2023 Accomplishments
Catalyzing the Field
Late last year, we received an email from the Bridgespan Group inviting us to participate in their research about field catalysts. We had been following the work of the Bridgespan Group for years, eager to learn as much as we could about collective impact, systems change, and what funders and non-profits were doing together to bring about lasting change in their respective fields.
This March, we were delighted to read one of Bridgespan’s new reports, naming 2020 Mom, now the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, as a Field Catalyst. Roughly 100 organizations were interviewed for the research.
What's a Field Catalyst?Bridgespan researchers say field-building catalysts deploy “different capabilities, quietly influencing and augmenting the field’s efforts to achieve population-level change.” Field catalysts are “connecting fragmented players in a given area of work to create an organized industry around an issue or challenge…so that…the field can operate more effectively and efficiently, tease out best practices and improve outcomes.” |
Critical Content:
The FORUM
The Emerging Considerations in Maternal Mental Health FORUM brings critical content to multiple stakeholders in the field and offers opportunities for stakeholders such as policymakers, payors, patients, providers, and others to convene and engage with one another.
This was our 13th annual FORUM, held virtually on March 22-24th and attracted 900+ participants from across the U.S. It was our third all-virtual event, and the event again consisted of 3 days of programming, including two networking sessions.
Topics and Speakers
Evaluation and Impact
94% of attendees reported the FORUM provided insight on systemic barriers and solutions in MMH care.
4.5 (out of 5) average rating on the likelihood of attendees applying what they learned to their work.
FORUM Attendees Express Their Gratitude
“Educational, engaging, and so important for anyone who cares for birthing people and families. Affordable registration, convenient virtual attendance, plus recordings…I want everyone to know about this amazing event!!!”
“My mind, heart, and soul are filled with invigoration around equity issues and how we need to rethink how we shape our Specialty Mental Health programs that treat families perinatally in a more comprehensive way embedded in community; Not adhering to the racist and structural constraints of our current systems and training platforms/wisdom ways of doing what we have always done. Continuing to work 1 hour per week per individual/dyadic client is not going to address this MH crisis in which we find ourselves.”
“I thought the FORUM was excellent! It covered so many topics that were needed for discussion, including helping patients that are on Medicaid and need services but have difficulty doing so due to limited resources out there for them. I am currently working on changing that for our patients in NY. ”
“Very informational conference with representation from diverse backgrounds in terms of work, experience, and race/ethnicity.”
Sponsors
We were grateful for the support of FORUM Sponsors who made this event and our team’s follow-up work possible.
Champion Level Sponsor:
Luminary Level Sponsors:
Hero Level Sponsor:
Advocate Level Sponsors:
In conjunction with the release of the state maternal mental health report cards, which illustrated the concerning state of maternal mental health in the United States, the Policy Center unveiled a comprehensive Federal and state policy roadmap in May.
National organizations utilized these recommendations as a reference point in sharing MMH policy solutions, including the Kennedy Forum, National Governors Association, and Families USA.
Reach
There were 1,879 unique visitors to this webpage, suggesting policymakers and other change agents are interested in pursuing effective recommendations.
Issue Briefs and Webinars/Briefings
Webinar: The Latest Developments in Maternal Mental Health Screening
This webinar provided a comprehensive overview of recommended screening tools, with a focus on those featured in our Universal Screening Issue Brief and highlighted tools included the PHQ-4, a concise screener for identifying anxiety and depression, and guidelines for screening for suicide risk. Emphasis was placed on the importance of culturally relevant/sensitive screening tools. The session delved into the new National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) HEDIS screening measures and presented the initial U.S. screening rates. Participants gained insights into screening timeframe recommendations and actions the Policy Center is leading to improve obstetric provider screening rates.
This was our highest-attended webinar of the year with 644 registrants.
Webinar: Access to Reproductive Health and Maternal Mental Health
Access to reproductive healthcare has been shown to impact rates of Maternal Mental Health Disorders (MMHDs). During this webinar, 2020 Mom discussed the release of its issue brief titled Access to Reproductive Healthcare and Maternal Mental Health and explored the brief’s key highlights with leaders in the field, which included:
A general overview of reproductive healthcare
Research on the relationships between maternal mental health and access to birth control, family planning counseling, and abortion
The Biden-Harris Administration's position on access to reproductive healthcare
The key levers for change to increase access to reproductive healthcare to reduce the impact of MMHDs
The Policy Center’s call to action for policymakers, advocates, and health insurers
433 Registrants
Family Planning Issue Brief
The Policy Center re-released the issue brief, The Link: Family Planning and Maternal Mental Health Issue Brief, with updated data on access to family planning services post the overturn of Roe v. Wade. This issue brief outlines the available research on the relationships between maternal mental health and access to birth control, family planning counseling, and abortion. It highlights the key levers for change to increase access to family planning and reduce the impact of MMHDs.
787 Downloads
Maternal Suicide Tracking
Maternal suicide is a leading cause of maternal mortality. The Policy Center has been reporting on maternal suicide rates since 2017, advocating for the U.S. to track and report data on maternal suicide.
Issue Brief: Maternal Suicide in the U.S.
In 2022, we focused on the development and issuance of our third issue brief, titled Maternal Suicide in the U.S.: Opportunities for Improved Data Collection and Health Care Systems Change. We re-released this brief with updated data on maternal suicide in September 2023.
Downloads 325
Webinar: Maternal Suicide Fireside Chat
On Friday, September 22, 2023, we hosted a virtual Fireside Chat to discuss the latest trends in maternal suicide, as noted in the re-released issue brief titled Maternal Suicide in the U.S.
563 Registered
Fact Sheets
Childcare Access
A good support system is vital during the postpartum period and has been shown to decrease the risk for maternal mental health disorders and increase general maternal wellness. A crucial part of the postpartum support system includes having access to affordable childcare. Childcare access for infants is especially important because there is currently no mandatory paid maternity leave in the U.S., which increases the need for accessible non-parental childcare. In 2022, the Policy Center released a Fact Sheet on Childcare and Maternal Mental Health to highlight current barriers to childcare access and address how these barriers impact maternal mental health.
Downloads 139
American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) Maternal Mental Health
While maternal mental health (MMH) disorders can impact anyone during pregnancy or the postpartum period, American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) mothers experience higher than average risk and prevalence for MMH disorders.
Although more research is needed in the United States, current research estimates the prevalence of maternal depression for AI/AN women to range from 14-30%. AI/AN women are disproportionately impacted by pregnancy-associated deaths due to having higher rates of pregnancy-associated drug-related death and suicide than other racial or ethnic groups. The American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) Maternal Mental Health Fact Sheet released this year highlights current research and gaps in MMH for the AI/AN population.
Downloads 18
Expanding the MMH Workforce: Training
Maternal Mental Health 101 Webinar and Certificate Course Training
This year, we continued our partnership with Postpartum Support International hosting quarterly Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) 101 webinars and the Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training for Mental Health and Clinical Professionals.
Highlights
Maternal Mental Health (PMH 101)
Four Webinars
6585+ Registrants
MMH Certificate Training Course for Mental Health and Clinical Professionals
Two courses
980+ Trained
What Attendees are Saying:
“The Maternal Mental Health Certificate Course has amplified my capacity as a doula and birth worker, equipping me with the tools to offer compassionate guidance and unwavering support to mothers and families navigating challenges during the perinatal period. Together, we embrace every step of the journey, fostering a nurturing environment of understanding and healing.”
Co-Laboratory
The Co-Laboratory reflects projects and research we conduct with and lead others to advance change. Below are highlights from the Co-Lab.
Barriers to MMH Care with the American Psychiatric Association
In partnership with The American Psychiatric Association (Principal Investigator: Diana Clarke), the Policy Center co-funded and supported the development patient barrier-to-care surveys and focus group questions. The results of these findings will be shared at the Policy Center's annual FORUM in 2024.
Documenting Risk and Resources with Plum Organics
The Policy Center partnered in 2023 with Plum Organics, a leading organic baby food brand, to develop a map to shed light on the major gaps in the maternal mental health care provider workforce.
The map is the first of its kind in the U.S. to track maternal mental health providers (PMH-Cs), prescribers, and non-profit community-based organizations (CBOs) by county and overlay the perinatal population and its risk factors for maternal mental health disorders.
The interactive map illustrates where in the U.S. mothers are at the greatest risk for suffering from maternal mental health disorders and where the greatest need for providers and community-based organizations is.
Impact
The risk/resources map, methodology, and data sets had a combined total of nearly 5,000 views.
State-based organizations and philanthropic leaders are using this data to make the case for maternal mental health workforce expansion and increased access to treatment.
Developing Inaugural MMH State Report Cards with George Washington University
The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, in collaboration with George Washington University, released the first-ever grading of state efforts in addressing maternal mental health; The results were gut-wrenching – with the U.S. receiving a D overall, and 40 states receiving Ds and Fs.
Because health delivery is largely overseen by states, we knew it was time to give states insight into how they are supporting maternal mental health.
With a standard set of measures, states can now benchmark their performance against other states and compare their performance year over year.
Reach
Our report card webpage got over 13,000 hits making it our most popular page after our home page, proving this is critical and sought-after content. Several states have reached out to our team to discuss how they can begin to improve their scores. Our government agency policy fellows are also anchoring their work around improving their state scores.
Media Coverage
Since releasing the report cards, there has been significant media coverage, including articles from CNN, the Wall Street Journal, and Psychology Today. These articles have been picked up by many local news outlets priming federal and state policymakers to support maternal mental health legislation. Highlights include:
How the U.S. Is Failing Moms on Maternal Mental Health Care
New study reveals what is driving state's poor grades on MMH conditions.
Published on Psychology Today. August 15, 2023. Read article here.
The Tragedy of Being a New Mom in America
One in five mothers in the U.S. suffers from mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy or soon after birth. For many, help is hard to find.
Published on The Wall Street Journal. August 7, 2023. Read article here.
Still Reeling From 6-Year-Old Trauma, Serena Williams’ Husband Alexis Ohanian Finds Discerning American Stat on Maternal Health as Warning Bells Issued
Published on Essentially Sports. July 31, 2023. Read article here.
Most States Received a D or F Grade on Maternal Mental Health. It Could Get Worse.
Published on CNN. July 29, 2023. Read article here.
Failing Grades for Maternal Mental Health – But a Roadmap for Change
Published on W.K. Kellogg Foundation. June 22, 2023. Read article here.
4 Ways to Promote Positive Maternal Mental Health
Published on Access Wire. May 30, 2023. Read article here.
Nonprofit Highlights Risk of Maternal Mental Health in New Mexico
Published on KRQE. May 23, 2023. Read article here.
Early Screening and Education Can Prevent Maternal Mental Health Illness
Published on Concord Monitor. May 13, 2023. Read article here.
Supporting Families Experiencing Infant Illness or Loss
Published on American Hospital Association. May 12, 2023. Read article here.
Report: Most States Don’t Have Quality Maternal Mental Health Services
Published on Boston 25 News. May 11, 2023. Read article here.
Alabama Needs More Maternal Mental Health Care, Advocates Say: ‘Treatment Is Not Occurring’
Published on AL.com. May 14, 2023. Read article here.
The First-Ever Maternal Health Report Card
Published on List 23. May 10, 2023. Read article here.
“Not Good” – Results From First-Ever Maternal Health Report Card Released
Published on SciTechDaily. May 10, 2023. Read article here.
Employers Can Benefit By Taking Maternal Mental Health Seriously, Research Shows
Published on Forbes. May 2, 2023. Read article here.
Commanding Action:
Federal and State Legislative and Regulatory Policy and Advocacy
Federal Policy
The 2023-2022 Congressional year was an important one for both federal mental health and maternal health policy.
TRIUMPH for New Moms Act is Signed into Law!
The federal bill championed by Policy Center was signed into law in December 2022, calling for the formation of a multi-sector and inter-government agency task force. We wrote and championed this bill recognizing that low support and treatment rates of maternal mental health (MMH) disorders are caused by many complex factors and that cross-sector and cross-government players are critical to solving this crisis.
The Task Force is charged with identifying, evaluating, and developing a national strategy to coordinate and improve federal activities to improve maternal mental health care in America. The Task Force will also issue recommendations to governors and House and Senate committees to improve maternal mental health outcomes.
The Task Force Launches
The new Federal Task Force on Maternal Mental Health launched on September 27. Joy Burkhard, the Policy Center’s Executive Director, is a member of the task force as well as over 100 other leaders in maternal and child health and mental health.
Meetings with Federal Agencies
The Policy Center conducted meetings with the following agencies:
| Agency | Dates of Meetings |
|---|---|
| Executive Office of the President | 12/16/22 |
| U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | 1/10/23, 9/12/23 |
| Center for Disease Control (CDC) | 1/20/23 |
| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) | 2/2/23, 4/28/23, 9/12/23, 9/22/23 |
| Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) | 9/26/23 |
| Department of Labor (DOL) | 9/22/22, 12/12/22, 6/22/23, 8/31/23 |
Throughout the year, we discussed various maternal mental health initiatives with these federal agencies and submitted comment letters. Topics of discussion included:
Addressing creative mental health parity solutions with the DOL
Urging SAMHSA to update its peer support technical assistance webpage to include resources on mental health, not only substance abuse, and provide clarification on which technical assistance centers support employers looking to utilize peer support specialists.
Discussing with CMS the need to provide guidance to state Medicaid agencies encouraging them to address billing/reimbursement to obstetricians for screening
Providing feedback on CMS on their postpartum toolkit; specifically the need to address peer support and obstetric provider screening, not just pediatric provider screening
Asking multiple agencies to address the critical need to include mental health care in health care coverage contracts vs. allowing carved out mental health
Supporting Federal Legislation
In the past year, The Policy Center supported 17 federal bills that directly or indirectly impacted maternal mental health. Some of these bills included:
Submitting and Signing on to Comment Letters to Federal Government
Comment letters to lawmakers and Federal agencies providing feedback on policy are a fundamental part of our policy work. This year we wrote ten letters to share our recommendations and policy priorities with key federal leaders, served as a subject matter expert to key members of Congress, and also supported other policy developed by other nonprofits by signing on to 30 additional letters.
Our Sign-on Letters and Policy Analysis Blogs:
Letter to SAMHSA on the National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification
Letter to New Mental Health Caucus Leaders on Top Policy Priorities
The concepts in this letter are being discussed with national mental health non-profit policy leaders and members of Congress. We expect to see progress made in 2024-2025 after the presidential election.
Letter to Senate HELP Committee on Healthcare Workforce Shortage Solutions
The Senate HELP Committee outreached the Policy Center to address a new proposal, signaling our feedback is being considered.
Letter in Support of a State Midwifery Access Bill
This state bill passed in 2023.
Letter re: 2025 Medicaid Adult Core Set Quality Standards
Decisions regarding this feedback will be made in 2024.
EEOC Proposes Employers Provide Accommodations for PPD
These regulations are still being developed and are expected to be finalized by the EEOC in 2024.
Updating the Field on Policy Developments
To ensure that the field had access to the work happening at a federal level, The Policy Center analyzed 16 Federal policies/papers and published related blogs.
Comment Letter on SAMHSA’s Peer Support Technical Assistance
February 2023 Health and Human Services Agency Maternal Health Briefing - A Program Overview
An Open Letter to New Mental Health Caucus Leader on Top Policy Priorities
Open Letter to Senate HELP Committee on Healthcare Workforce Shortage Solutions
Feedback Shared with SAMHSA on the National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification
SAMHSA Strategic Plan Draft for 2023-2026: The Policy Center’s Response
The US Preventive Services Task Force Recommends Screening for Anxiety
The Department of Labor Issues New Proposed Mental Health Parity Rules
The National Governors Association Addresses Maternal Mental Health
2025 Medicaid Adult Core Set Quality Standards Comment Letter
State Policy Tracking
The Policy Center updated and launched new state policy pages, outlining all maternal mental health legislation that has passed in the U.S. over time. This resulted in the development of state policy pages within 26 states. These pages summarize each bill and link to the official text.
We also conducted an analysis of legislation passed in 2022, highlighting and categorizing the eleven state laws addressing maternal mental health.
Congressional Briefings
Unveiling the New Maternal Mental Health State Report Cards and Policy Roadmap
During this virtual briefing, members of Congress were briefed on the latest national maternal mental health statistics and federal maternal mental health policy and learned about the inaugural Maternal Mental Health state report cards released for the first time in May 2023. The briefing also featured a roadmap of the Policy Center’s top federal and state policy levers to improve maternal mental health outcomes.
426 Registrants
Bipartisan Family Planning: The Latest Insights and Opportunities for Improving Family Planning Options for Maternal Wellbeing
The Policy Center hosted a Congressional Briefing, “The Latest Insights and Opportunities for Improving Family Planning Options for Maternal Wellbeing,” which educated Congress and the general public on the following:
The latest developments in family planning, including access to contraception
The economic impact of mistimed/unintended pregnancy on women, families, and society
Research on the impact of unintended pregnancy (and maternal mental health)
An innovative product, Long Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) for men
Policy recommendations to improve access to family planning services
542 Registrants
Communities of Practice
State Policy Fellows Programs
The Policy Center’s two Fellows programs provide 12 months of training in learning community settings, covering a core set of topics, with presentations and ample time for robust discussions. The Fellows are charged with creating action plans based on our model legislation and state report cards.
The Third Cohort of Nonprofit State Policy Fellows Class Graduates
The Policy Center's Nonprofit State Policy Fellows program aims to assist backbone organizations in developing a foundation for regulatory and statutory policy change to close gaps in maternal mental health in their states.
2022-2023 Nonprofit State Policy Fellows
The 2022-2023 cohort graduating class included 9 participants from the following 4 states and territories: Massachusetts, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.
Evaluation and Impact
The program had a 90% session attendance rate.
100% developed action plans.
What our Fellows Had to Say:
“The Nonprofit State Policy Fellows Program provided a learning space for me to grow in my understanding of advocacy. After completing the fellowship I am comfortable speaking up more readily within the communities where I live and work to champion perinatal mental health-related policy change.”
“I am thankful for this Fellowship. When you think about Policy and Advocacy work, it can seem so heavy and time-consuming. Being able to create a plan to disseminate how and when to send information to legislators/government officials is important. I am happy that I took part in the Fellowship Program.”
“The State Policy Fellows Program was a huge help, offering really important tips and context around how we can improve systems on MMH at the state level. One area that was particularly helpful to me was around executive branch advocacy – where the rubber meets the road and initiatives can succeed or get bogged down. The program was a great mix of inspiration and practical guidance. Big thanks to the Policy Center!”
“PSI North Carolina is extremely appreciative of this program. PSI N.C. was able to draft a legislative action plan which we took to the General Assembly this spring and garnered several meetings. We do have a plan in place to work on a proclamation for May as maternal mental health month in perpetuity, establishing a statewide MMH task force, and a legislative briefing tentatively set for next spring. As the Advocacy lead for PSI NC, I’m extremely appreciative of the opportunity to take part in this program and can state with certainty that we would not be where we stand today as a committee without the support of the Fellows program!”
The Second Cohort of Government Agency Fellows Graduates
2022-2023 Government Agency Fellows
The Government Agency Fellows program aims to assist state Medicaid, behavioral/mental health, and public health departments in closing gaps in maternal mental health.
Our 2022-2023 graduating cohort of Government Agency fellows included 14 participants from 8 states and counties including: California, Delaware, Florida - Hillsborough County, Indiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
Evaluation and Impact
The program had a 90% session attendance rate.
100% developed action plans
What the Fellows Have to Say:
“The Fellows program was valuable to us at the WA Health Care Authority in a host of ways but the one that feels the most meaningful and has had ongoing impact and focus for us has been increasing our engagement with our Department of Health colleagues around various maternal health programs and initiatives. In WA, our MCH block grant funding/programs, our statewide Perinatal Quality Collaborative, our Maternal Mortality Review Panel (among others) are all run out of our Department of Health, a sister state agency. Hearing how some other states even had representatives from the agency that oversees these programs was a motivator for us to not just be involved at the edges or as participants in limited roles, but to make concerted efforts to partner with staff and collaborate. There have been larger successes and some still in progress but we remain committed to the value and importance of leaning in, we have much to offer and also plenty to learn.”
“I think one of the biggest impacts this program had on me was requiring me to slow down and get the work done. It’s so easy to get behind on what’s considered special projects outside of your normal work and being part of the Fellows made me stop and think about the impact I wanted to have on my state. It forced me to set aside time each month and think about how I would implement the project so it would be FINISHED and not kicking the can further down the road. I also appreciated the collaboration with other states and “shamelessly stealing” either their ideas or things they’ve done in their state to try to incorporate into my work in NC. The support from the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health leadership was invaluable as it enabled me to hear about maternal mental health from a federal level, which is not something I hear in my day-to-day job as my work is focused at the state level. Furthermore, my experience as a fellow confirmed my passion and commitment to maternal mental health.”
“Participating as a Fellow was a wonderful experience for me. As a professional, I gained SO much information about the current state of mental health services for maternal populations, especially for those who are BIPOC- a population on which our Agency has recently decided to focus. The speaker series, to me, was critical to the program. Probably the biggest takeaway for me was to learn of the work our similarly-sized peers in other states are doing; my colleague and I learned areas where we need to develop. The final assignment- to develop a plan to improve our MH systems- allowed us to move from ‘learning’ to action. Our state will be better because of this process.”
“The Fellows Program helped me strengthen my ability to support birthing people and their families by providing a deeper understanding of the gaps, needs, and disparities that drive negative outcomes within this population. The opportunity to enhance my knowledge and develop strategy in collaboration with national agencies and maternal mental health leaders across the country was an invaluable experience.”
The Next Nonprofit State Policy Fellows Cohort Starts
In July of 2023, we launched the fourth cohort of our Nonprofit State Policy Fellows program for nonprofits well-positioned to serve as backbone policy and advocacy organizations leading state legislative policy change. Participants from this cohort include representatives from Alabama, Indiana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
2023-2024 Nonprofit State Policy Fellows
The Next Government Agency Fellows Cohort Starts
In July of 2023, we launched the third cohort of our Government Agency Fellows program for agencies well positioned to implement program and policy change in their Medicaid, behavioral/mental health, or public health departments or collaborate at the state level with their legislators to impact policy change. Participants from this cohort include representatives from Alabama, New York, and Utah.
2023-2024 Government Agency Fellows
Overall Impact
Below are examples of the work our fellows are accomplishing post-graduation.
Puerto Rico (2020-2021)
As a result of the Fellows program, the Puerto Rico NonProfit Policy Fellows worked to finally get Maternal Mental Health on the map in their region. Since they were starting from scratch, their first goal was to raise awareness and legislative attention to this issue. They were able to use the information provided through the fellows program to draft and pass the first-ever proclamation for maternal mental health awareness month in PR. The fellows used that proclamation to convene stakeholders at the capitol, including a Senator, to continue building support. The PR fellows also used what they learned to track and provide support for three other pieces of legislation in PR related to maternal mental health. They have formed a task force to continue to grow their stakeholder networks and create MMH policy for PR.
Louisiana (2021-2022)
The knowledge and information gained by participating in the Fellows program informed the development of a pilot initiative that uses quality improvement science to determine the best-practice implementation of perinatal depression screenings in pediatric practices. This pilot is seeing great success, and there are plans to scale the initiative to go statewide. They supported pieces of legislation, one which created a maternal task force and one which required postnatal and pediatric providers to screen all caregivers for depression. To aid these, they also obtained grants to implement provider consult lines, one for perinatal providers and another for pediatric providers.
Ohio (2021-2022)
Ohio Nonprofit State Policy fellows launched their newly formed MMH Task Force in January 2023. Much of their work post-graduation has been focused on building sound structure and getting the pieces in place for this Task Force to launch. They have continued to use the resources provided during the Fellows Program and ongoing technical assistance as their coalition develops and engages in their initiatives.
Mom Congress
With the generous support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Mom Congress had another successful year, and was instrumental in passing critical pieces of legislation, developed the 2023 Moms’ Agenda, grew and trained members in policy and advocacy, and supported new nonprofit partners.
The project was led by Ebony Wrenn.
Ebony Wrenn, Ed.D.
The Movement
Mom Congress is both a moment in DC and a movement that includes a membership option, recurring eNews letters, member townhalls, and online communities for each of the four focus areas or caucuses:
Paid Maternity/Paternity Leave & Child Care
Preventing Maternal Death / Improving Birth
Maternal Health Equity
Maternal Mental Health
The Membership
We ended this year with 344 Members.
We set the following membership growth goal for 2023:
+300% increase in membership (Goal: 684 members)
Member quote:
“Mom Congress gives me the opportunity to use my ‘mom voice’ to advocate on behalf of moms and their families. The team trains you how to advocate and makes the whole process less scary. I love the camaraderie of the moms and sense of accomplishment I have each year. Hooray, moms!”
The Moms’ Agenda 2023
Mom Congress supports many pieces of legislation annually through calls to action, organizational sign-on letters, and direct advocacy by our members from across the United States. These bills are bipartisan and have been identified as having the potential to substantially improve the lives of mothers and their families in the United States. The 2023 Moms’ Agenda included 11 bipartisan bills addressing the Mom Congress policy priorities. During the Mom Congress Hill Day our members asked Congress to support these bills.
The “Moment”
The 2023 Mom Congress Convention
In 2023, the Mom Congress Hill Day brought together mothers, partner organizations, and other stakeholders in DC to advocate for legislation to improve motherhood. Nearly 100 advocates gathered together on September 18th and 19th, 2023 representing 26 states.
The Saving and Supporting Moms Congressional Briefing
The annual “Saving and Supporting Moms” briefing was held on September 19. During this briefing, members of Congress and their staff members heard experts share the latest statistics and recommendations:
The latest maternal mortality dataset from the CDC
Research regarding paid parental leave and the impact on the economy
Childcare post-Covid
The current burden of maternal mental health, and more
Congressional Reception
At the conclusion of the Mom Congress Hill Day, we held the Mom Congress Congressional Awards Reception
135 individuals registered for the Congressional Awards Reception.
Speakers included organizational sponsors and members of Congress:
Katharine Nasielski, Director for Government Relations, CARE USA
Nick Schemmel, Director of Federal Affairs and Policy, Organon
Representative Kathy Castor, FL’s 14th Congressional District
Representative Buddy Carter, GA’s 1st Congressional District
Representative Young Kim, CA’s 40th Congressional District
Meetings with Congress
Members scheduled and attended 88 meetings with Congressional Offices (38 House of Representatives meetings, 44 Senate meetings, five key committee meetings, and one meeting with a congressional working group).
Member Satisfaction with Mom Congress Hill Day
85% Satisfaction Rate
Noteworthy Attendee Quotes
“Mom Congress has taught me that my voice matters and can be heard. They make its so easy to learn and advocate for legislation that I wouldn’t likely understand on my own. The things I have learned through Mom Congress have carried over into my personal and professional life and I’m a better person because of it.”
“Walking with moms from across the nation, on the issues and challenges we face decreases the isolation, the thinking this is only me, and creates a chorus of voices that increases our power, presence, and lives. We touched bases on the most basic of human existence, parenting.”
“This experience with Mom Congress made me feel validated, supported, heard and it also really pumped me up to continue advocating for my clients, my friends and family members who are mothers, as well as myself. Such an amazing and important time for moms! I’ll be back next year!”
Mom Congress: The Next Chapter
The Policy Center has been honored to found and incubate Mom Congress. This year we filed for independent nonprofit status for Mom Congress so Mom Congress can continue to grow and attract independent philanthropic funding. Our Executive Director will serve as the board chair, and the Policy Center will continue to provide staffing and “back-office” support.
Policy Center Fast Facts
Email Subscribers: 26,753
External Speaking Engagements: 16
Convenings (webinars and more) held by the Policy Center: 24
Media Mentions in published Articles: 20
Committee, Boards and Consulting Projects
Our staff is supporting the dissemination of the latest maternal mental health research and policy recommendations in part by engaging in the following non-profit task forces/working groups or boards:
The Federal Maternal Mental Health Task Force
Trust for America’s Health - Welling Working Group
Legal Action Center’s Coalition for Whole Health
California Maternal Care Quality Collaborative (Stanford) - Board of Directors
Health Care Transformation Task Force Board of Directors
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist Maternal Mental Health Expert Work Group
Alliance for Innovation in Women’s Health Perinatal Mental Health Care Measurement Consultant
Alliance for Community Health Plans, Maternal Health Equity Project Consultant
Institute for Medicaid Innovation Maternal Mental Health Consultant re Health Plan Quality
Institute for Medicaid Innovation Maternal Health Summit project participant
Georgetown University Center for Children and Families Maternal Mental Health Project Consultant
PCORI Grant Consultant (4 projects)
Mental Health Liaison Group - Parity Working Group
Mental Health Liaison Group - Peer Support Working Group (Co-Chair)
International OCD Foundation - Maternal Mental Health Work Group
Policy Center 2023 Financials
General Overview
Our fiscal year runs from October 1-September 30. Below is an overview of our financials.
EXPENSES BY CATEGORY
$1,263,619
TOTAL REVENUE
$1,034,766
Expenses by Program
Commanding Action: $318,235
(State and Federal advocacy, letter writing, policy blogs)
Co-Laboratory: $84,833
Critical Content Development: $216,895
Communities of Practice: $99,716
Mom Congress: $259,400
All other program expenses (program development, eNews, website, etc.): $152,527
Individual Donations
This year, the Policy Center raised $31,521 from individual donors.
We are extremely grateful to our top individual donors, which include:
$1,000+ Donors
Laura Keller
Carole Mendoza
Lisa Bacus
Rosanna Durruthy
Tufts Medical Center (Maternal/Child Health Care Team)
Erin Wilson
Laura Woodside
Jaime Cabrera
$500-$999 Donors
Priya Bathija
Benjamin Miller
Nault Family Charitable Fund
Looking Ahead
We are at a tipping point in the field of Maternal mental health. As we look ahead to 2024, we are filled with hope for the future. Specifically, the large-scale media coverage, and movement in Federal action and state policy provide a critical window to guide systems change, including policymakers in adopting model legislative and regulatory policies that we know will move the needle in maternal mental health.
Behavioral Health Integration and Community-Based Organization Support
With funding secured, our practice policy work will focus on supporting obstetric care providers (obstetricians/midwives) in providing screening and treatment. We will also research the number and distribution of community-based organizations and the barriers they face in providing maternal mental health services.
Legislative and Regulatory Priorities
Our legislative and regulatory policy work, will include addressing the role of the obstetric provider, workforce expansion, and access to treatments, including:
Supporting our state non-profit and state agency Fellows in improving their states’ MMH state report card grades.
Working with CMS to encourage state Medicaid agencies to develop
Health plan contract language and reimbursement policies for obstetric provider reimbursement and monitoring of maternal depression screening and follow-up (in alignment with the HEDIS maternal mental health measures)
Health plan contract language regarding assessing for adequate numbers of Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) providers in the behavioral health provider networks.
Working with states who don’t yet train, certify, or reimburse certified peer support specialists providing mental health support to expand certification and reimbursement so peers can provide maternal mental health support.
Calling on private insurers to publish coverage policies about reimbursement to Ob/Gyns and midwives for screening and treatment.
We invite you to join us on this journey by following our progress through our e-newsletter and cheering us on by attending our events, making a donation, or sharing our work with colleagues.
Onward!