Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is proposing comprehensive legislation aimed at curbing high maternal mortality rates, especially among women of color in Onondaga County. She’s calling for 180 million dollars in the end-of-year spending bill for her Moms Matter Act. Gillibrand says it would support mothers while growing and diversifying the maternal health workforce. She says that includes training culturally competent workers of color to help women at all stages of their pregnancy.
“I've heard more stories of women who survived because their husbands were in the room or their sisters were in the room to advocate for them," Gillibrand said. "And I've heard stories about from husbands who have lost their wives because even as advocates, they could not breakthrough. So it’s a horrific, horrific set of circumstances that result in these women dying.”
The US has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the developed world, and Onondaga County’s rate is twice the state average. Outcomes are even worse for black and brown women. Asteir Bey is co-founder of the Sankofa Reproductive Health and Healing Center in Syracuse. She says historical legacies of racism and marginalization have caused these poor outcomes.
“When we think about these numbers and the ways that black women are birthing, we put a lot of the ownership on what needs to that, that preparation on them. We're prepared," Bey said. "The systems aren't prepared. So we need policy and legislation that wraps around us in a way that shows loving care and compassion for our generations of being left out of optimal healthcare.”
The Moms Matter Act would also establish grant programs to support moms with maternal mental health conditions or substance use disorders by investing in community based treatment. Rachel Johnson is a doula and founder of Half Hood Half Holistic. She says medical bias and capitalism have contributed to what she calls the dismantling of community-based care.
“True health equity and diversity begins in the community," Johnson said. "It begins being led by those that are single handedly carrying this on the forefront."
Gillibrand made her announcement Friday at the future location of Syracuse Community Health just south of downtown on South Salina Street. CEO Mark Hall says that’s in the heart of the zip codes most impacted by maternal mortality. It’s slated to open sometime next month.
