We take action and share knowledge with Community-Based Doulas, Breastfeeding Peer Counselors & other CHWs so birth workers’ voices are heard
Taking Action for Birth Equity
Mobilizing doulas, breastfeeding peer counselors and other Community Health Workers is at the heart of our work.
In 2017 HealthConnect One launched the Birth Equity Leadership Academy, a national network focused on birth equity and centering community voices. BELA participants came from 27 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. More about BELA is on our Resources page.
In 2020, building on our work with BELA we created the Birth Equity Action Network to provide birth workers a platform to share stories and take action. This network is a movement of CHWs, doulas and lactation specialists, skilled in peer-to-peer learning, who speak with the voice of experience on the need for these services in marginalized communities.
Supporting Policy Initiatives
We take positions on issues of importance to maternal and child health and educate legislators and regulators at the local, state and federal level on issues related to birth equity, maternal mortality, and perinatal health.
A list of positions we’ve taken is here.
Recent Advocacy & Policy Articles
- On Behalf of Birthing Families
We are proud to join Families USA, Community Catalyst, The National Partnership on Women & Families, and Protect Our Care and […] - Build Back Better Passes the House!
Earlier this month, the Biden Administration made history by signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act! The Bill, which will provide […]