Press Releases
2019
2020 Mom Founder and Executive Director Joy Burkhard awarded the 2019 APHA “Maternal and Child Health Outstanding Leadership & Advocacy Award”
LOS ANGELES, October 29, 2019 -- 2020 Mom Founder and Executive Director Joy Burkhard has been awarded the 2019 American Public Health Association (APHA) “Maternal and Child Health Outstanding Leadership & Advocacy Award” for her tireless advocacy efforts leading maternal mental health awareness and systems change. The award is given each year at the APHA annual conference during the Martha May Eliot Awards luncheon, which this year will be held on November 5, in Philadelphia. The Outstanding Leadership and Advocacy Award recognizes leaders who have made significant contributions to the field by creating the political will to improve the health of mothers and children.
In honoring Joy Burkhard, the APHA recognizes her leadership as the Founder and Executive Director of 2020 Mom, a nonprofit social change organization focused on closing gaps in maternal mental health care. Joy has worked tirelessly on improving detection and treatment of maternal mental health disorders which impact up to 20% of women, and 50% of women living in poverty. These illnesses include depression, psychosis and various forms of anxiety. These disorders can occur within pregnancy or the postpartum period and still largely go undiagnosed and untreated. When left untreated, these disorders not only negatively impact a mother’s sense of self and ability to care for her family, but have been linked to poor child development outcomes.
Since 2020 Mom’s inception in 2011, Joy has led her team and collaborators through a process of learning why these disorders remain untreated including understanding the levers for change. Highlights of her advocacy career thus far include:
Forming and leading the National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health, which was instrumental in the passage of the U.S. law, Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act (which was signed into law in 2016 by President Obama, as part of the 21st Century Cures Act) and provided federal grants to 7 states thus far to improve telepsychiatry access;
She also lead the work promulgating the formation of a Blue Ribbon Commission in California, where one in eight U.S. births occur: The California Task Force on Maternal Mental Health. The multi-stakeholder task force issued its recommendations to the public, legislature and to national and state organizations in 2017. This report lead to the introduction and passage of four state laws which 2020 Mom co-sponsored, including a bill that requires obstetricians to screen for maternal depression and bills that engaged hospitals, insurers and regulatory agencies, including the Department of Public Health and the California Medical Board.
Joy also worked with non-profit partners and other leaders to expand the 2020 Mom annual D.C. “Hill Day” to bring moms together to address multiple maternal health issues, including the rising rate of maternal death surrounding birth and paid family leave through a coalition and event now called “Mom Congress.” In 2020, 300 moms are expected to attend the event on Capitol Hill.
“It’s incredible to be recognized for this work that I find so rewarding. I have the honor of leading a dedicated and thoughtful team and a network of moms and others ready to roll up their sleeves to make change happen. Through this award, we are all being honored by the American Public Health Association,” said Joy.
About the APHA Maternal Health and Child Health Outstanding Leadership/Advocacy Award
The Outstanding Leadership & Advocacy Award recognizes leaders who serve at local, state or national levels and who have made significant contributions to the field by creating the political will to improve the health of mothers and children. Learn more: https://www.apha.org/apha-communities/member-sections/maternal-and-child-health/who-we-are/awards4
About 2020 Mom
2020 Mom understands the complex health care system and how to change the tide to so all mothers are screened, diagnosed and treated for maternal mental health disorders. 2020 Mom shares these paths forward with stakeholders and thought leaders to drive systemic change and isn’t afraid to push partners through legislative and regulatory change. Because of its proven track record, 2020 Mom is recognized as a national go-to organization who is advancing systems and policy change for maternal health. Learn more at http://www.2020mom.org.
For More Information about 2020 Mom or Joy Burkhard contact 2020Mom@codedPR.com
This May, 1000s of Mothers are Taking the #MakingOverMotherhood Challenge
During Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, The Blue Dot Project is hosting a #MakingOverMotherhood Challenge April 29-May 3
LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blue Dot Project, host of the annual U.S. based maternal mental health social media awareness campaign and national awareness symbol, The Blue Dot, together with spokesperson Jen Schwartz, founder of MOTHERHOOD-UNDERSTOOD, is announcing its 2019 campaign theme, #MakingOverMotherhood. The campaign will run from April 29th to May 3rd. The #MakingOverMotherhood campaign will feature daily memes to "make over" the image of a perfect motherhood and the notion that moms can do it all without support. Mothers are invited to join the 5-Day Challenge and share daily real motherhood photos and messages to social media with the campaign hashtag, #MakingOverMotherhood. "We want to empower mothers, at least for a week, to post photos of what is really happening behind closed doors," said Joy Burkhard.
With the prevalence of women suffering from maternal mental health disorders like postpartum depression as high as 1 in 5, acknowledging how difficult motherhood can be is critical to both potentially preventing these disorders by helping to set realistic expectations, and in letting women who are suffering know they are not alone.
"We need to shatter the belief that the perfect mom exists. Real motherhood is hard and messy and sometimes very ugly. We should be able to be real without the fear of being judged or shamed," says Jen Schwartz, The 2019 Blue Dot Project Spokesperson.
Organizations can also proactively sign up as partners at TheBlueDotProject.org to share daily messages. Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is being sponsored by Sage Therapeutics.
Contact:
Cindy Lee Herrick
Cell: 480-338-1076
About The Blue Dot Project
TheBlueDotProject.org hosts the universal symbol for maternal mental health, The Blue Dot, a robin's egg blue circle that is symbolic of maternal mental health disorder awareness, support and solidarity. TheBlueDotProject.org shares daily uplifting and real social media posts and is a project of the non-profit organization 2020 Mom. https://www.thebluedotproject.org/
About 2020 Mom
2020 Mom is a tax-exempt social change organization whose mission is to close gaps in maternal mental health care through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Learn more at http://www.2020mom.org.
About Jen Schwartz
Jen is a writer, speaker and influencer known as the "medicated mommy" who picked up the debris left by postpartum depression and anxiety and created MOTHERHOOD-UNDERSTOOD, a platform for the up to 1 in 5 moms affected by maternal mental health issues and the community she couldn't find while struggling in a dark closet all by herself after the birth of her son. She is committed to shining the light on the darkest of places, where maternal mental health taboos have been hiding out, trying to make us believe that we are not enough and all alone. For more, visit http://motherhood-understood.com.
SOURCE The Blue Dot Project
Related Links
https://www.thebluedotproject.org
2018
Napa, California, April 20, 2018 Local Moms group, Napa Moms and national non-profit organization 2020 Mom, will be hosting a candlelight vigil, open to the public, at Veterans Park in Napa California Monday 4/23 at 7:15 pm to mourn the death of Holly Bloom. Holly was suffering from a maternal mental health disorder and lost her life Sunday after completing suicide. Holly had attempted suicide last week and her child had previously been taken away from her by CPS. On Sunday afternoon Holly walked from her home to a parking lot across the street at an elementary school, doused herself in flammable substance and set herself on fire. School was not in session / there were no children present at the scene. Holly was a 43-year-old mental health therapist in Napa, CA and leaves behind her eight month old daughter, Leilani. Speakers will include community leaders and mothers who believe more action should be taken to prevent these tragedies.
Los Angeles, March 23, 2018 2020 Mom and Congresswoman Katherine Clark announced today that the U.S. House and Senate omnibus spending agreement provides $5,000,000 for the screening and treatment of maternal mental health disorder treatment.
The funding was authorized in section 10005 of the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255) through the Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act.
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is directed to make funding available to states through grants. States must apply, and apply for funding to establish, improve or maintain programs to train professionals to screen for, assess and treat maternal depression in women who are pregnant or have given birth in the preceding 12 months.
“The $5 million secured for maternal mental health programs in the omnibus appropriations bill that passed today will not only make more maternal depression screenings and prevention programs possible across the country, it’s also a resounding affirmation of what advocacy groups like 2020 Mom have been saying all along: The stigma surrounding this condition and the health care system that fails to consistently screen and support mothers suffering from it, must end,” said Congresswoman Clark, author of the Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act.
2020 Mom will inform its community when the grant applications become available.
2017
November 9, 2017
2020 Mom Executive Director Selected as the Junior League of Los Angeles' "2017 Community Achievement Award Honoree"
October 25, 2017
2020 Mom & the Perinatal Mental Health Society Announce the Winners of the 2017 Maternal Mental Health Innovation Awards
July 19, 2017
Clark, Herrera Beutler Secure $1 Million for Maternal Mental Health
June 07, 2017
2020 Mom & the Perinatal Mental Health Society Launch the Innovation Awards
April 25, 2017
Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is May 1-7
2016
December 13, 2016
National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health applauds Senate passage of the 21st Century Cures Act
May 14, 2016
With Blue Dot Project, artist turns postpartum anxiety into a symbol of hope
2014
May 09, 2014
Mother's Day 'May Campaign' to Raise Awareness of Maternal Mental Health Disorders