Advocating for Systems Change
Lasting progress requires systems change.
We’re inspiring action by centering community perspectives, voices, and experiences.
Since our founding, policy and advocacy has been core to our work to advance maternal health. In 2010, our Founder & President Christy Turlington Burns joined other maternal health advocates on Capitol Hill to share her birth story and call for the passing of the GLOBAL MOMS Act, legislation that sought to improve access to life-saving care for women and infants around the world. EMC has used the connection between storytelling and advocacy to inspire action and drive change ever since. We collaborate with policymakers, advocates, and community-based organizations to identify priority maternal health issues and encourage people to use their voices to advocate for and implement policies that promote quality, respectful, and equitable maternity care for all.
The Impact of our Advocacy in 2024
785
letters sent by advocates from 40 states
9
federal bills supported
How We Approach Advocacy
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We intentionally approach advocacy as a partnership—between individuals and policymakers, between our team and our partners—and we are committed to amplifying the voices and priorities of those closest to the issues.
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We champion policies to advance safe and respectful maternity care, scale evidence-based, person-centered care models such as the midwifery model of care, and build more just and accountable healthcare systems.
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We support solutions that are designed to address the comprehensive needs of the communities in which they are situated, with a particular focus on community-based care and maternity care workforce development.
Our Advocacy in Action at the State and Federal Levels
At the State Level...
We collaborate with advocates, providers, and community-based organizations to promote policies that advance maternal health, respectful care, and birth equity. We support state-level legislative priorities, including but not limited to:
- Training and fair compensation for midwives and doulas, including Medicaid reimbursement
- Policies that encourage midwife-led and freestanding birth centers
- Laws that mandate accountability in healthcare systems, including mechanisms that hold systems and government accountable for incidents of disrespectful care, systemic bias, and mistreatment
At the Federal Level...
We support the development and passage of federal legislation and policies in the United States designed to improve maternal health outcomes, experiences of care, and address inequities, including:
- The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act: A package of bills designed to comprehensively address America’s maternal health crisis including dedicated funding for community-based doulas and the perinatal health workforce;
- The Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Services “MOMMIES Act”: A bill that aims to improve maternal health outcomes by targeting care access, quality, cost, and experience, including ensuring that all states extend Medicaid coverage to a year following childbirth; pilot maternity care homes.
We complement our state and federal advocacy work by supporting grantee partners that are driving systems change for maternal health in their communities.
In addition to the essential care they provide to mothers across the country, all of EMC’s U.S.-based grantee partners are engaged in systems change work to advance maternal health and birth equity. EMC is proud to support these efforts through our General Operating Support grants and by using our platform to shine a spotlight on our partners’ advocacy priorities, approaches, and impact.
Inspired to Take Action?
There are many ways to get involved in the movement for maternal health.
Understand the Issue
Visit our Resource Center for reports, articles, and issue briefs.
Make an Advocacy Plan
Check out our Advocacy Toolkit to help guide your own advocacy and organizing for maternal health.
Use Your Voice
Use our platform to urge your legislators to take bold action for maternal health in a few clicks!