Our Work > Advocacy
It takes a village - and we're building one.
With the support and groundwork of birth equity advocates in our network, we fight for fair pay for birth workers, reproductive justice, and sustainable communities for future generations.
Fair Pay For
Birth Workers
Sustainability and fair pay are critical to support ongoing, quality care that advances maternal
and child health. We use evidence-based practices and team expertise to build sustainable models that improve birth outcomes, breastfeeding rates, and economic mobility for community members.
The HealthConnect One Sustainability Pathway for Perinatal Community Health Workers supports trainees and trainee organizations in sustaining programs that help families and improve outcomes.
Birth Equity
Leadership Academy
The Birth Equity Leadership Academy (BELA) is a national network focused on birth equity and centering community voices. Our first cohort of BELA participants came from 27 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Our Advocacy Approach
We call for policies that promote community-based, peer-to-peer support.
HealthConnect One is working at federal and state levels to:
- Raise public awareness regarding the value of community-based, peer-to-peer support and its evidence-based outcomes.
- Incorporate community-based doulas and breastfeeding peer counselors into government-supported home visiting programs.
- Enable community health centers to serve patients beyond the clinic walls through community-based doulas and breastfeeding peer counselors.
- Ensure services provided by qualified community-based doulas and breastfeeding peer counselors are reimbursed by public and private insurance at an appropriate rate in every state.
Birth Equity
Action Network
We created the Birth Equity Action Network (BEAN) in 2020 to provide a platform for birth workers to share stories and take action. This network is a movement of CHWs, doulas, and lactation specialists from 50+ organizations who amplify the voices and needs of birthing families in marginalized communities.
260
birth equity advocates and activists joined our Birth Equity Action Network in 2021.
35+
letters, statements, and action alerts supporting legislation to advance maternal and child health in 2021.
Policy Initiatives:
Community to Congress
We take positions on issues of importance to maternal and child health and educate legislators and regulators at the local, state, and federal levels on issues related to birth equity, maternal mortality, and perinatal health.