Healthy Women, Healthy Babies Initiative
If you didn't already know, Wisconsin Black women and babies are in a state of emergency.
Governor Evers has proposed to help address this crisis by investing $30 million in his State Budget into a Healthy Women Healthy Babies Initiative.
While it's heartening to see a budget that includes provisions to help address our state's Black maternal and child health crisis, we need to speak out to encourage state legislators to keep this proposal in the state budget and to support the Healthy Women Healthy Babies Initiative!
Path Forward
- Wisconsin faces a black infant mortality crisis.
- Wisconsin has the highest rate of black infant mortality. African American babies born in our state die before age 1 at a higher rate than any other state in the country.
- The rate of infant deaths for black babies in Wisconsin is nearly three times as high as white babies.
- The maternal mortality rate for African Americans is five times greater than for non-Hispanic Caucasians giving birth in Wisconsin.
Governor Evers has proposed to help address this crisis by investing $30 million in his State Budget into a Healthy Women Healthy Babies Initiative.
- Includes funding to pilot a doula reimbursement program in targeted communities and invests in doula training grants. (The benefits of having a doula present during labor are well documented and studies show improved birth outcomes).
- Expands Medicaid postpartum eligibility for women up to one year. (Currently, Medicaid covers pregnant women for only 60 days after birth of their child).
- Includes $4.5 million to Black woman-led and community serving organizations working to improve Black women's health.
- Includes $3.5 million to organizations working to reduce disparities in maternal and infant mortality.
While it's heartening to see a budget that includes provisions to help address our state's Black maternal and child health crisis, we need to speak out to encourage state legislators to keep this proposal in the state budget and to support the Healthy Women Healthy Babies Initiative!
Path Forward
- It is heartening to see a budget that includes provisions to help address our state’s infant mortality and birth outcome crisis with this initiative.
- Recognizing that women’s preventative health care should be prioritized is a step in the right direction
- It is crucial that community leaders remain at the table through implementation.
- These items must not be taken out of the budget as we must start taking steps to remedy this crisis.
Press Coverage:
2/22/19 - Tony Evers to seek $28 million for women's health, infant mortality, Planned Parenthood
2/26/19 - Looking At The Proposal in Governor Evers' Budget for Women's Health
3/12/19 - A closer look at Evers' pledge to invest millions towards improving women's health care
3/12/19 - Health advocates, lawmakers say Tony Evers' health care plan is needed to disrupt disparities
4/16/19 - State Rep. Stubbs hits target with claim on Wisconsin's black infant mortality rate
2/22/19 - Tony Evers to seek $28 million for women's health, infant mortality, Planned Parenthood
2/26/19 - Looking At The Proposal in Governor Evers' Budget for Women's Health
3/12/19 - A closer look at Evers' pledge to invest millions towards improving women's health care
3/12/19 - Health advocates, lawmakers say Tony Evers' health care plan is needed to disrupt disparities
4/16/19 - State Rep. Stubbs hits target with claim on Wisconsin's black infant mortality rate
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