At AMCHP’s 2024 Annual Conference, we listened to thought leaders share key insights and call to action for stakeholders in maternal and child health. Each speaker highlighted the necessity of collaborative efforts and community engagement to drive effective policy reforms.
To highlight the significance of Black maternal health and the ongoing efforts to improve maternal health outcomes, AMCHP featured two powerful plenary videos with influential leaders in Black maternal health policy.
Video Spotlight #1: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act
The first plenary video featured Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), a co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus and the driving force behind the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. This groundbreaking piece of legislation aims to address the multifaceted drivers of maternal mortality and morbidity, with a particular focus on eliminating the racial disparities that disproportionately affect Black mothers.
Congresswoman Underwood shared her motivations for advocating maternal health reforms and discussed how the Momnibus Act proposes to systematically dismantle the barriers to safe, respectful, and equitable maternal care. Her message resonated with the urgency of legislative action to save mothers’ lives and ensure no family has to endure preventable tragedy.
Video Spotlight #2: Champions of Change in Black Maternal Health
In our second plenary video, we brought together three distinguished advocates: Okunsola M. Amadou, Founder and CEO of Jamaa Birth Village and recipient of the AMCHP 2024 John MacQueen Lecture Award; Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12); and Breana Lipscomb, Senior Adviser of Maternal Health & Rights at the Center for Reproductive Rights.
These leaders provided their unique perspectives on the importance of Black Maternal Health and discussed their personal inspirations for entering the field, the policy changes they are advocating for, and the collective impact of their efforts. Their dialogue highlights the crucial role of community and legislative advocacy in advancing maternal health outcomes.
