MADISON, WI- Today, Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) introduced the Birth Equity Act, a package of 7 bills designed to disrupt inequities in maternal and child health by supporting Black, Brown, and Indigenous mothers and infants that were developed in consultation with doulas, women’s health organizations, and birth workers from across the state of Wisconsin. Representative Shelia Stubbs released the following statement:
“In our state of Wisconsin, mothers of color are consistently underserved. Black mothers are five times more likely to die from childbirth or pregnancy, and Black infants are three times more likely to die before they reach the age of one. These statistics demonstrate the systemic inequity that has made Wisconsin one of the worst states in the nation for Black mothers and Black children. We cannot stand idle as our families continue to suffer.
The Birth Equity Act is a bold and comprehensive bill package that will tangibly impact the lives of countless women and children in Wisconsin. By removing financial barriers, expanding coverage for services, and increasing access to care, we will give families of color the opportunity to thrive in our great state. The expansion of services will also include improved access to postpartum care, mental health care, dental health care, and doula services, all of which are evidenced to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
These actionable policies are a meaningful step forward for Wisconsin. Our families, our mothers, and our children deserve coverage and access to care. By taking this step forward, we are not only dismantling systems of oppression, but building systems of equity.
When Black mothers do better, we all do better. For too long our healthcare system has failed women of color and their children. Now is the time to act, and make Wisconsin a better place to live for everyone.
In the words of Former First Lady Michelle Obama, ‘Communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women.’”
