Gov. Whitmer Proclaims Black Maternal Health Week from April 11-17
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a proclamation declaring April 11-17 as Black Maternal Health Week in Michigan, reaffirming the state’s commitment to addressing racial disparities in maternal health.
“Every mom deserves to feel safe, supported and heard through her pregnancy and postpartum journey,” said Governor Whitmer. “But we know that too many Black mothers face higher risks due to systemic disparities in health care. Recently proposed Medicaid cuts at the federal level also threaten to strip essential health care from Michigan families, raise costs for all patients, and decrease access to maternal care, leading to worse outcomes for moms and babies. In Michigan, we’ve made record, bipartisan investments in maternal and infant health and will keep fighting to protect and expand access to health care while closing systemic racial gaps.”
“To every Black mother in Michigan, we see, we hear you, and we are fighting for you,” said Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “No mom should have to worry about whether she’ll have access to the care she needs to bring her child into the world. As a husband to a Black woman, and a father of three children, I know how critical it is to have access to quality prenatal and postpartum care. Black women are already experiencing a maternal health crisis, and cutting Medicaid will only deepen the disparities. I will continue to work to protect and ensure every Black mother has the resources and support she deserves.”
“Rx Kids is the nation’s first, and boldest effort to improve maternal health by treating an underlying issue — the unprecedented financial strain of having a baby,” said Dr. Mona, Pediatrician, Founder and Director of Rx Kids, and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Associate Dean of Public Health. “And it is working. Rx Kids’ approach is proven, effective, efficient, and scalable. Thanks to Governor Whitmer’s steadfast support of Michigan moms and babies, Rx Kids started in Flint, and from Kalamazoo to the UP, we have expanded across Michigan, with many more communities to come. Our goal is for every mom and baby, across our great state, to have the support and care they need.”
“Black mothers deserve to thrive — not just survive,” said state Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit). “Yet for far too long, systemic racism, implicit bias and gaps in healthcare access have put their lives and well-being at risk. The data is clear: Black women are more likely to experience complications during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care because of racial inequities in our healthcare system. This Black Maternal Health Week, I reaffirm my commitment to addressing these disparities head-on and advocating for policies that prioritize culturally competent care.”
“The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, and the crisis is even more severe for Black women,” said state Rep. Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit). “Black Maternal Health Week is more than just an observance — it is a call to action. It is a time to uplift the voices of Black mothers, to push for policies that expand access to high-quality care and to hold our systems accountable for ensuring that no mother is left behind. We must listen, advocate and demand better. Every Black mother deserves to experience a safe and healthy pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey.”
“The Black maternal mortality crisis has persisted for far too long,” said Amy Zaagman, Executive Director, Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health. “We commend the work being done in Michigan to address the systemic factors contributing to this crisis and must sustain this vital work. By tackling the challenges faced by Black women—who are among the most marginalized in the healthcare system—we can create solutions that benefit all women.”
“For far too long, systemic inequities — rooted in racism, bias and unequal access to quality healthcare — have placed Black mothers at an increased risk of complications, poor maternal health outcomes and even death,” said state Rep. Brenda Carter (D-Pontiac). “These disparities persist across income levels and education backgrounds, proving that the issue is not about individual choices but about a healthcare system that too often fails Black women. Black Maternal Health Week is a time to acknowledge these injustices and amplify solutions that center Black voices and experiences.”
“A healthy future for our communities begins with ensuring that every mother has access to safe pregnancies, high-quality maternal care and policies that protect and support Black mothers at every stage of their journey,” said state Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids). “The reality is that Black women face significantly higher risks of pregnancy-related complications due to systemic barriers, racial bias in medical care, and a lack of access to essential maternal health resources. Protecting Black maternal health is not just a healthcare issue — it is a human rights issue, and we must all be part of the solution.”
“Strengthening Black maternal health should be an action that everyone supports,” said state Rep. Cynthia Neeley (D-Flint). “All people deserve to live a life that is equitable to their neighbor — we aren’t there yet though. With the attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, we must come together in advocacy to give Black mothers the voice they deserve to have. All too often Black women’s concerns, perspectives and viewpoints are swept under the rug. We must do better on all levels in America. We recognize Maternal Health Week as a time of collective action and trudging ahead so more can be done for the future of our daughters and their daughters.”
“There are undeniable disparities in medical care provided to Black mothers and white mothers — and we have a moral obligation to address them,” said state Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing). “The transformational policies we laid out in our Senate Momnibus package will help us close these gaps and ensure all expecting moms can have a healthy start with their new baby.”
“Black mothers deserve to enjoy motherhood without dealing with preventable health problems. Yet, despite widespread awareness of existing disparities, Black mothers still face a significantly higher mortality rates than white mothers,” said state Sen. Sylvia Santana (D-Detroit). “This is why legislation like our Momnibus package is crucial. We must continue to raise awareness, speak out, and take action to ensure Black mothers receive the same level and quality of care as their white counterparts.”
“In Michigan, three-quarters of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, and Black mothers continue to die at nearly three times the rate of other groups,” said Dr. Sonia Hassan, Synergy Of Scholars for Maternal and Infant Health Equity (SOS MATERNITY) Network. “In addition, our rates of preterm birth and infant mortality are above the national average. That’s why we created the SOS MATERNITY Network—to tackle this crisis head-on. This first-of-its-kind initiative brings together 14 leading universities and healthcare systems across Michigan to save moms and babies. Our providers have already delivered lifesaving interventions to over 500 SOS MOMs at clinical sites statewide, working in coordination with Regional Perinatal Quality Collaboratives and Michigan 2-1-1 to help all Michigan families thrive.”
“Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week is an opportunity to uplift the Legacy of Resilience and Strength of Black Women in Michigan and throughout the nation,” said Jametta Lilly, Detroit Parent Network. “It is also critical to recognize and resolve the persistent inequities that fuel a national black maternal mortality crisis. Michigan as a state and Black maternal health advocates have a strong record of advocacy centering the voices and lived experience of Black mothers and families to help build an equitable perinatal system of care. While we have a ways to go yet, I am proud of the work in our state to improve women’s health and Black maternal/child health in particular from our Home Visiting Systems, RX Kids to Strong Beginnings. Together, through awareness, including women’s voices in the design and implementation of their services, along with equitable policies and funding we can begin reversing the tragedy of Black Maternal deaths.”
Annually, April 11-17 is recognized nationally as Black Maternal Health Week, founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, which amplifies the voices of Black Mamas and centers the values and traditions of the reproductive and birth justice movements.
Black women are 2.8 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. Michigan is addressing the root causes of Black maternal morbidity and mortality through systemic change, social justice work, mental health, breastfeeding and doula care support, along with access to equitable health services and programs.
Whitmer Administration Actions to Support Moms and Babies
In the 2020 State of the State address, Governor Whitmer proposed the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies initiative, which aims to reduce the disproportionate racial impacts of maternal and infant mortality. The governor has since signed multiple budgets funding the program to ensure moms have the support, they need for healthy pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum care:
- Allocated a total of $117 million in the FY 2025 budget toward the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies program.
- Close to 45,000 postpartum moms now have access to 12 months of continuous postpartum Medicaid coverage, assuring continuity of care and access to the full array health benefits during this critical period.
- In its first year, nearly 20,000 Michiganders received family planning and related services, including annual wellness exams, preventive screening, pregnancy testing and counseling, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and services, through Plan First.
- Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies (HMHB) has funded the expansion of 24 evidence-based home visiting programs, including programs specifically designed for indigenous families, in 23 counties to serve families impacted by the child welfare system and those impacted by substance use.
- Awarded funds to sponsor 11 doula trainings throughout the state to train up to 250 people to be Medicaid-enrolled doulas.
- Established and expanded RxKids, the nation’s first-ever program that puts money directly in the pockets of new moms and babies to improve their finances and health.
- Proposed $113 million in FY 2026 to continue programs for supporting reproductive and maternal health.
As a result of these programs, more Michigan mothers have the support they need to have safe pregnancies and healthy babies. In 2024 The Healthy Moms Healthy Babies Initiative resulted in 101,139 enhanced home visits including 17,067 virtual visits for families enrolled in the statewide Maternal Infant Health Program.
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