That state work coupled with our Founder and Executive Director Joy Burkhard’s extensive experience working in the legal and quality improvement departments for a Fortune 50 healthcare services company has formed the basis of our understanding of the root cause barriers to diagnosis of MMH disorders and access to care.

We began addressing federal policy when we formed the National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health in 2014. The Coalition was formed after we convened a group of stakeholders in D.C. to address maternal mental health and share the "2020 Mom Project's" pillars of change. Stakeholders included the National Institute for Health Care Management, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, the March of Dimes, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Postpartum Support International and more. Federal agencies had also RSVPed though the event occurred on the first day of a government shutdown.

The National Coalition began convening regularly and included engaging federal agencies. The National Coalition was the group that ultimately led the advocacy work to pass The Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act, with the help of a dynamic volunteer lobbyist.

2020 Mom as the Recognized Policy Leader

Recognized as the go-to MMH policy expert, 2020 Mom has been invited to speak and participate at SAMHSA convenings, The National Governors Association, Zero to Three (presentation and fireside chat) AMCHP, CLASP’s Policy learning network and Centers for Medicaid Innovation.

National Awards

Joy has received several national awards for her policy expertise and accomplishments most notably:

• In 2016 Joy received the Federal Health and Human Services, Office of Women’s Health Emerging Leader Award

• In 2019 Joy was honored with the American Public Health Association’s prestigious and highly competitive Maternal Child Health Advocate of the Year Award

Our Project Portfolio:

65% of the 2020 Mom Project Portfolio is Related to Policy, Including Federal and State Policy Advocacy.

This Includes:

• The Annual MMH Emerging Considerations Multi-Stakeholder FORUM

• Writing and staffing Federal MMH Legislative Policy

• Writing and staffing CA MMH Legislative Policy

• Tracking and endorsing applicable Federal MCH and MMH bills

• Drafting Model MMH State Legislation

• Consultant to the Black Maternal Health Caucus re: Mental Health and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus

• Routine check-ins with Federal Agencies: HRSA, NIH, SAMHSA, CDC, and OWH

• Monitoring Maternal Suicide Reporting Policy

• The Maternal Mental Health State Policy Fellows Program for Non-Profit Leaders

• The Maternal Mental Health Public Health Fellows Program

• Hosting the annual MMH DC Hill Day through Mom Congress

• Updating the MMH field on MMH Federal and State Policy through annual webinars and routine blog posts (2020 Mom)

• Distributing eNews including news roundup addressing topics pertinent to the MMH field and policy (2020 Mom)

• Supporting 2020 Mom Ambassadors in Becoming Advocates for Change

2020 Mom’s Significant Policy Accomplishments Timeline

• The month of May proclaimed as Perinatal Depression Awareness Month in California in 2010

• Formation of the National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health in 2014, the entity that pushed for passage of Bringing Postpartum Depression Out of the Shadows Act

• Formation of a Multi-Stakeholder Maternal Mental Health Task Force in CA in 2015 including national speakers.

• Issuance of the CA MMH Strategic Plan Report in 2017, the first report in the nation to identify the gaps and a framework for change for national agencies and professional associations.

• Development of respected relationships with state and federal agencies, most notably SAMHSA and CDC beginning in 2014.

• Drafting and passage of CA’s comprehensive maternal mental health bill package (2017-2019) including the high profile screening mandate and insurer law.

• Hosting via Mom Congress the 2019 “Saving and Supporting Moms” Congressional Briefing, featuring the CDC, Christy Turlington Burns and others

• Drafting and securing federal interagency report on federal gaps in maternal mental health (2020)

• Hosting the Grassroots Mom Congress Community Forum For Members of Mom Congress (2020)

• Consulting to the Black Maternal Health Caucus on the Black Maternal Health Momnibus (2020)