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Black women have long led the fight for health equity, particularly in the realm of maternal health.

About the Collective:

The Black Maternal Health Federal Policy Collective, founded by Dr. Jamila Taylor in February 2021, leads the strategic advancement of Black maternal health through federal policy, from inception to implementation. The Collective is a go-to resource for policymakers, advocates, the press, and the public.

We aim to ensure that the voices and needs of Black mothers, femmes, and birthing people are heard and central to the policymaking process. The Collective works tirelessly to illuminate the critical issues at the heart of Black maternal health, fostering an environment of understanding, action, and change.

Our vision beyond policy change is that of a transformative shift in the societal and systemic structures that contribute to maternal health disparities. Through collaboration, advocacy, and relentless pursuit of justice, the Collective seeks to not only influence policies but also to inspire a culture that embraces and prioritizes the health and well-being of all mothers.

Our Mission:

Our mission is to lead the strategic advancement of Black maternal health through federal policy, from inception to implementation.

We do this in the following ways:

Prioritize the lived experiences, needs, and the right to resources for our communities.
Inform, influence, and center Black maternal health priorities in federal policy development and decision-making.
Ensure accountability in policy implementation for Black birthing people.
Build intentional relationships with key stakeholders.
Leverage media to shift narratives on Black birthing people and parenthood.

Who We Are:

We are an interdisciplinary collective of subject matter and policy experts who bring our unique lived experiences as Black women and femmes to our work. We are presidents, executives, and early- to mid-career professionals grounded in the reproductive justice, birth justice, and intersectionality frameworks.

Past Members

Jennie Jacoby Mitchell
Dawn Godbolt
Alise Powell
Miranda Badgett
Renee Smith Nickelson
Clarke Wheeler
Angela Taylor

Raven Freeborn
Denys Symonette
Camille Kidd
Adelaide Appiah
Kavelle Christie
Mariah Francis
Adelaide Appiah

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Interested in joining the Collective? You can find our application form here.

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Success over the Years

2021	February	Began engagement with the White House Gender Policy Council and Domestic Policy Council on policy opportunities to improve maternal health outcomes, which continued throughout the year and directly informed the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis.
2021	March	Led advocacy for states to extend Medicaid coverage to one year postpartum, which ultimately resulted in that coverage being included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
2022	June	Published messaging guidance on the intersection of abortion access and Black maternal health.
	August	Published an op-ed in Ms. Magazine about how overturning Roe v Wade will exacerbate the Black maternal health crisis.
	September	Members of the Collective presented at Black Mamas Matter Alliance’s Black Maternal Health Conference.
	November	Hosted a virtual briefing, “Addressing an Urgent Crisis: Why Investment in Maternal Health is Needed Now More than Ever,” featuring a panel of Collective members.
2023	April	Hosted an in-person briefing on Capitol Hill, “The Time Is Now: Congressional Action to Address Black Maternal Health,” featuring a panel of Collective members.
2023	May	Celebrated the reintroduction of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in the 118th Congress.
2024	April	Held a series of meetings with offices on the Hill for Black Maternal Health Week’s Policy Day during which the Collective shared our maternal health policy goals and priorities with staffers and members.
	August	Members of the Collective presented at SisterSong’s Let’s Talk About Sex Conference.
	September	Members of the Collective presented at Black Mamas Matter Alliance’s Black Maternal Health Conference.
	October	Members of the Collective presented at the Baltimore Black Perinatal and RJ Conference. Launched the Maternal Health Policy Pulse Newsletter. Hosted the event How Abortion Restrictions. Are Worsening America’s Maternal Health Crisis in collaboration with The Century Foundation, featuring Rep. Ayanna Pressley. The Collective published a report on the intersection of abortion access intersection of abortion access and Black maternal health in the form of a report.
2025	February	The Collective launched its Advisory Committee.
	April	Held an in-person Congressional briefing on the state of maternal health for 2025 Black Maternal Health Week, featuring a panel of maternal health and reproductive justice advocates and remarks from Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Ayana Pressley (MA-07) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14).
	August	Held a webinar on the impacts of Medicaid and Affordable Care Act cuts under H.R.1 on Black maternal health. During Black Breastfeeding Week, the Collective hosted a webinar, “Shaping the Future of Black Breastfeeding through Community-Led Policy,” which explored the evolution of infant feeding and lactation policy.
	September	Held a reception during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, “State Success to National Impact: Celebrating Black Maternal Health Wins,” featuring advocates and state representatives.
	October	he Collective published a brief, “State Actions to Protect Black Maternal Health,” that summarized the deep cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act under H.R.1, its impact on access to pregnancy and postpartum care, and proposed state solutions for Black maternal health.
	November	TCF and the Collective released social media graphics on the impacts of federal funding delays to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on Black maternal and infant health.