Lawmakers present checks, provide update on maternal healthcare efforts
Rep. Morgan B. Cephas October 16, 2024 | 3:26 PM
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 16 – State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., and members of the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus on Tuesday joined city officials, program leaders and maternal healthcare stakeholders to celebrate state funding for maternal health programs in the Philadelphia region and to provide an update on their efforts to improve maternal health outcomes.
Ceremonial checks representing state support for maternal health programs in the region were presented by Cephas, who is chair of the Philadelphia House Delegation and co-chair of the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus. She also is a former co-chair and current member of the bicameral Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus.
“One of the core missions of the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus and Women’s Health Caucus is to ensure that the funding that is needed on the ground for organizations to do the important work of ensuring better maternal health outcomes for mothers and their babies is there for them,” Cephas said. “We worked hard to get $25 million dedicated to maternal health in this year’s state budget and $5 million in state funding dedicated to a Maternal Health Fund to provide needed dollars to organizations coming up with innovative ideas to provide comprehensive physical and mental health care and support to birthing people and babies before, during and after their birthing journeys.
“I am honored to be at the forefront of this fight for better maternal health outcomes in Pennsylvania and am thrilled to see the fruits of this labor,” she said. 
During a morning briefing at ACHIEVEability in West Philadelphia, the Philly Joy Bank received $198,565 for its guaranteed income pilot that is providing 250 pregnant Philadelphians with no strings attached cash with the goal of improving birth outcomes. The program began taking applications in June and is still accepting applications. More information and applications can be found at www.phillyjoybank.org.
The University of Pennsylvania also was awarded $199,242 to establish BirthBridge Philly, which will include conducting an analysis and community listening sessions to comprehensively understand the prenatal care landscape in Philadelphia. With this information, a prenatal care consortium (BirthBridge Philly) will be established, which will lay the groundwork for implementation of the AIM Community Care Initiative entitled "Community Care Postpartum Safety and Wellness Bundle."
Later in the afternoon at the Maternity Care Coalition North Philadelphia location, the coalition was presented $200,000 to help with its Family Support Fund. The Philadelphia Department of Health also received $396,272 for its Regional Perinatal Mental and Behavioral Health Line and $200,000 for its Organized Voices for Actions program.
State Rep. Gina Curry, D-Delaware, co-chair of both the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus and Women’s Health Caucus joined in the presentations.
“I’m so very proud of the work we’ve accomplished within the Black Maternal Health Caucus and Women’s Health Caucus,” Curry said. “From introducing and passing bills in our Pennsylvania MOMNIBUS legislative package to securing state funding for organizations and municipal health departments doing this work on the ground, our caucuses are committed to ensuring better maternal health outcomes in Pennsylvania and reversing the disheartening statistics of maternal death and complications, especially for Black and brown birthing people who are disproportionality affected by poor health outcomes.”
Dr. Aasta Dinesh Mehta attended both events to accept awards on behalf of the Organized Voices for Action and alongside partners at Penn Medicine for BirthBridge Philly and the Philadelphia Department of Health for the Perinatal Behavioral Health Line (TiPs). Mehta is the medical officer of women's health for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and a practicing OB/GYN and sits on the PA Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Philadelphia Maternal Mortality Review Committee, as well as the PA Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
“Since establishing the nation’s first non-state-based Maternal Mortality Review Committee in 2010, we have recognized that addressing maternal mortality requires collaborative action across sectors,” Mehta said. “That’s why we formed the Organized Voices for Action—a multidisciplinary coalition of providers, city agencies, community-based organizations, lived experience experts, and more, all dedicated to implementing our recommendations. These critical dollars are essential to support our strategic efforts, enabling us to make significant strides, from expanding postpartum hypertension surveillance to launching educational programs and a behavioral health consultation line. Our work exemplifies how strategic partnerships can transform maternal health outcomes in Philadelphia, demonstrating that united, we can create real change for birthing people and families.”
Cephas said the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus is celebrating its one-year anniversary as a formal caucus in the legislature. More information about the caucus can be found at pahouse.com/BMH.