Did you know…?

• Pregnancy related death rates for Black mothers in California are 4x the state average
• Compared with the average rate, Black babies are more than twice as likely to die

What does the new Momnibus Act do?

• It requires Medi-Cal to now cover doula care services. This is brand new. Before this bill passed, people would have to pay out-of-pocket if they wanted the support of a doula during or after pregnancy, which made this kind of care inaccessible for a lot of low-income families. Doulas can offer unique, culturally appropriate support that improves the health of mothers and babies– so it was really important for us to make sure all communities got access to this kind of care. 

• It requires Medi-Cal to cover maternal health care for 12 months postpartum (in other words, for one year after the baby is born). Before this bill, Medi-Cal coverage only extended 60 days after birth– so this is a big improvement.

• It gives eligible pregnant people earlier access to CalWORKs aid. Now, folks can have access to this support at once pregnancy status is confirmed/verified.  

• It gives eligible pregnant people an increase in their CalWORKs pregnancy supplement. Before this bill passed, eligible people received $47 to support them during pregnancy. Now, that amount has been increased to $100. This reflects the high costs of living in our state, and means that families can focus on their new baby and worry less about having enough money to cover their basic needs.

• It requires our state to empower a committee of community members and health care professionals to collect data and examine the role of racial disparities in maternal deaths and severe injury. This committee will then make recommendations for reducing racial and other disparities so that all mothers and babies get the care they deserve.

• It aims to expand the midwifery workforce by incentivizing midwifery schools to recruit from underrepresented populations. This is important because it means pregnant women will get care from professionals who reflect their own communities and cultures.

When do the Momnibus benefits kick in? 

Not all benefits will start at the same time. This is common when new laws are passed, because it takes some time for the state to figure out how to implement the changes. The extra CalWORKS supplement will hopefully go into effect on May 1, 2022. It may be a bit longer before Medi-Cal starts covering doula services. There are some administrative pieces to put in place before this program can go live, but we are hoping that folks will have access to doulas starting in July, 2022. 

Who will be eligible for these benefits? 

Different components of the bill will affect different groups of people. Anyone who is pregnant and covered by Medi-Cal will have access to doula care. Several factors are considered for CalWORKS eligibility. It is not just one minimum income amount. Factors considered include income, family size and dependents, and pregnancy and employment status. For more information, visit the CalWORKS website. If you think you’re eligible for benefits under a certain program, we recommend contacting that program directly to make sure you qualify.

Why is data collection important? 

Data collection is important for gaining a more accurate understanding of any issue. Data provides evidence of a problem, which means that it is more likely to be recognized as a problem and receive the attention and resources needed to fix it. 

What is Doula Care?

Doulas are trained people, usually women, who support mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth. Doulas are not medical professionals, but they can play an important role in the birthing process by providing coaching and emotional support, and advocating for mamas to have the best experience possible. 

What is Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal is our state health insurance program. Many low-income people and families qualify for this program. The threshold to qualify is an annual income of less than $17,774 for an individual, or $36,570 for a family of four. 

What is CalWORKs?

CalWORKs is a state program that provides cash assistance and services to eligible families that have at least one child in the home. Families are able to receive both short-term and long-term support, including money each month to help pay for housing, food, and other basic things. 

Where can I go to learn more?

This is a brand new bill, so information about how it’s being implemented is still forthcoming. The Department of Health Care Services is the department implementing doula coverage and postpartum Medi-Cal extension, and you can check their website for information about those items. The CalWORKS website has information about how to check your eligibility and apply. You can also call them at (866) 613-3777.

What other legislation has BWWAP passed to support Black mommas and babies?

Senate Bill 464 (Mitchell)– the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act. This law requires all health care providers that take care of pregnant people to receive implicit bias training every two years. It also requires that patients are given information about how to report discrimination in health care services. Research confirms that discrimination and implicit bias contribute to the quality of care that Black folks receive and it has been identified as a reason for the disparity in pregnancy related deaths and health outcomes for Black pregnant mommas. Implicit bias is the idea that negative attitudes, stereotypes or beliefs about a group of people unconsciously affect our understanding and treatment of that group. 

Assembly Bill 1237 (Dodd)– the Justice and Equity in Maternity Care Act. This law expands access to perinatal care providers by removing the physician supervision requirement for nurse-midwives. This means more people will have access to nurse-midwives. This is especially important in geographic areas of the state where there aren’t many doctors– currently, at least nine counties in California do not have an OB-GYN. Nurse-midwives are advanced practice nurses who have completed training in both nursing and a higher education program (obtaining either a master’s or doctoral degree) with a focus in midwifery.

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“California is leading a movement long overdue. Governor Newson signing SB 65 brings our state into the forefront of tackling maternal deaths and severe injury due to pregnancy.  Black Women for Wellness Action Project knows that there is plenty of work ahead, but every journey starts with a first step, and this step today is critical,” said Nourbese Flint, Executive Director of Black Women for Wellness Action Project. “BWWAP is dedicated to tackling the egregious death rates experienced by Black mommas, and we are thankful that we have allies and partners inGovernor Newsom, Senator Skinner and her staff, and Western Center on Law & Poverty on this journey. We are ready to continue the work with this bill signing. Here is another tool, resource and strategy for tackling Black health inequities. With this signature, California takes a huge step in re-imaging maternal care for our most vulnerable pregnant folk while setting the bar for the rest of the country. Our sincere thanks to the community of Black women leaders, advocates and activists who are actively engaged as we move the needle on eliminating health disparities Black women experience. BWWAP is delighted that the broader legislature is investing in pregnant folks and babies and setting the bar a bit higher in policy and programs addressing maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. Our communities, advocates and organizations, leaders, parents and children will have additional tools and resources to close the gap and eliminate unnecessary deaths of moms and babies.”

Black Women for Wellness Action Project joined the California Nurse-Midwives Association, March of Dimes, Naral Pro-Choice California, National Health Law Program, Western Center on Law & Poverty, and Women’s Foundation California Dr. Beatriz María Solís Policy Institute as sponsors of SB 65. 

A report released earlier this month by the Maternal and Child Health Division of the California Department of Public Health revealed that the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black

women was four to six times greater than that of other racial and ethnic groups, indicating a negative trend or widening disparity. Although California has reduced the rates of maternal mortality over the past 30 years, mortality and morbidity for Black and Indigenous/Native American pregnant people, women, and infants remain considerably higher than the state’s average. Research points to structural racism and socioeconomic factors as contributing to the racial and geographic disparities seen in birthing outcomes of people of color. Moreover, California is experiencing a critical shortage of perinatal providers, as currently nine counties do not have a single OBGYN, but leading national and international maternal health organizations have noted that access to midwifery care is a key strategy in improving patient outcomes and reducing racial disparities in birth outcomes. 

“It is significant that Black Women for Wellness Action Project, an organization that is led by Black women and advocates for the dignity and safety Black birthing people, is a lead co-sponsor of The California “Momnibus” Act,” said Andria Hancock-Crear, Board Vice President of Black Women for Wellness Action Project. “The unique voice of BWWAP, the knowledge of the lived experience of black pregnant folks and the ability to translate the needs of this community into policy was essential to ensuring that this legislation will help to transform how care is delivered and how data about Black maternal and infant outcomes is collected.” 

“The maternal and infant mortality and morbidity crisis has persisted for far too long, and a change in the conditions that contribute to the disparities in our state was long overdue,” said Juana Rosa Cavero, Board Secretary of Black Women for Wellness Action Project. “A systems level change was necessary — change that engages state agencies and institutions, and the California Momnibus Act does just that! BWWAP has been unwavering in our advocacy for Black mommas and babies and it is our constant drumbeat for Reproductive Justice solutions to this crisis that has made a difference.”

Earlier this summer, Governor Newsom signaled California’s commitment to improving maternal health outcomes by incorporating critical components of the original parts of SB 65 into California’s final budget for 2021-2022. This means: doula services and extended postpartum coverage are included as Medi-Cal benefits; an increase in the CalWORKS supplement for pregnant people; and a guaranteed income pilot that prioritizes pregnant people will soon be a reality for a large swath of Californians. Although maternal health enjoyed significant wins through California’s budget this year, critical steps to achieve equity remain and we are thrilled that Governor Newsom continues to see this commitment through by signing groundbreaking legislation into law.

Background on SB 65

Through meaningful and responsive interventions, SB 65 addresses the maternal mortality crisis in California and advances equity in birthing outcomes by: 

1. Codifying and expanding California’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Committee to investigate maternal mortality and morbidity with a mandate to look specifically at: racial and socioeconimc disparities; Queer, Trans, and Gender Non-Conforming birthing outcomes, and make recommendations for best practices to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.
2. Updating data collection and protocols for counties that participate in the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Process. 
3. Clarifying that pregnant people are exempt from CalWORKS welfare-to-work requirements.
4. Building the midwifery workforce by establishing a fund for midwife training programs that meet the priorities of admitting underrepresented groups and those from underserved communities, or prioritize training and placement of graduates in California’s maternity care deserts. 

BWWAP is proud to be one of the original co-sponsors leading the charge on SB 65. We commend the Governor and Legislature for joining us in our re-imagining of maternal health in California. These investments in California’s maternal health infrastructure are critical for reducing the disparate outcomes that plague Black mommas and babies, so we look forward to working with the Administration on the implementation of these pieces. We are deeply grateful for the partnership and tireless efforts of our fellow co-sponsors and coalition partners and the fearless leadership of Senator Nancy Skinner. 

Watch Governor Newsom’s bill signing ceremony, featuring BWWAP Executive Director Nourbese Flint.

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BWWAP is committed to the health and well being of Black women and girls and seeks to ensure this through building the political and electoral power of Black women statewide and sponsoring innovative policy grounded in reproductive justice principles.

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Together we defeated the attempted right-wing power grab and democracy lives to see another day in California! Californians understood the assignment and executed accordingly. This win is not just about keeping Gov. Gavin Newsom in office. It is about Saving Democracy in California and affirming the voice of our state’s citizens. It is about preserving our values and advancing health equity and reproductive freedom.

As an organization, we recognized the implications of this special election. We knew what was at stake — progressive policies that advance the health and well-being of Black women and girls. So, we went to work. Through a robust communications and field campaign, grassroots community and business engagement, as well as strategic partnerships, we galvanized our communities to take a stand for our values.

Leading up to the election, BWWAP:

• Placed ads statewide from Los Angeles to the Bay Area reaching hundreds of thousands of voters in South LA, Compton, Watts, Inglewood, Palmdale, Lancaster, Oakland, Stockton, Fresno and beyond through mobile app ads, billboards, wheat postings and local newspapers
   
• talked with more than 6,500 voters on the phones to ensure they understood the process, had a plan to vote, understood what was at stake and the importance of voting no in the election
   
• Ran No on the recall radio ads heard by over 100 thousand people in Los Angeles
   
• Connected with 65+ businesses in South LA to share the no on the recall message with them and encourage them to promote a no on the recall message to their clients
   
• Partnered with BIPOC lead and serving organizations lead by Courage California to host a youth focused stop the recall rally where we engaged, energized and educated attendees on the issues at stake
   
• Partnered with Naral Pro-Choice California and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California to host a stop the recall reproductive freedom phone bank that featured elected officials and community leaders who offered their insights with volunteers and underscored the importance of voting no in this special election 

We are deeply grateful to Million Voters Project Action Fund and The Grove Action Fund, for  their financial support, which enabled us to work with our community to secure this win!  Together we were able to make sure that California has leadership that demonstrates an interest in expanding access to healthcare, closing the disparities gaps and advancing health equity. We look forward to working with Governor Newsom as he has been a great partner in BWW’s mission to expand healthcare access and reduce racial disparities maternal health and other health indicators. 


In Solidarity,

Black Women for Wellness Action Project

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BWWAP worked hard to defeat this conservative power grab. With support from our partners at Million Voters Project, our team:

• Talked with more than 6,500 voters on the phones to ensure they understood the process, had a plan to vote, understood what was at stake and the importance of voting no in the election
   
• Created and placed ads statewide where we new Black voters would see and hear them. From Los Angeles to the Bay Area, we reached hundreds of thousands of voters in South LA, Compton, Watts, Inglewood, Palmdale, Lancaster, Oakland, Stockton, Fresno and beyond through mobile app ads, billboards, wheat postings, and local newspapers

• Ran radio ads heard by over 100 thousand people in Los Angeles
   
• Connected with 65+ businesses in South LA to encourage them to share No on the Recall messages and voting information with their clientele
   
• Partnered with BIPOC lead and serving organizations lead by Courage California to host a youth-focused Stop the Recall Rally where we engaged, energized and educated attendees on the issues at stake
   
• Partnered with NARAL Pro-Choice California and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California to host a Stop the Recall Reproductive Freedom Phone Bank that featured elected officials and community leaders who offered their insights with 150+ volunteers and underscored the importance of voting NO in this special election

Voters had two questions on their ballots—we urged Californians to vote NO on question one. Voting NO meant we kept our Governor and protected our democracy. In the 2.5 years since Governor Newsom has taken office, he has worked with us to advance access to maternal care and break down racial inequalities in our state. We’ve fought for and won: the largest renter assistance and relief program in the country; an extended moratorium on evictions; and COVID-19 relief and health benefits for many families. Right now, Black communities are being heavily impacted by the pandemic, uprisings demand a reckoning with systemic racism, and now abortion access is rapidly shrinking around the country—more than ever, California must be a leader in these progressive fights, and we cannot allow right-wing backlash to dismantle the progress we’ve fought so hard for.

The stakes were high in this election. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, we MOBILIZED our communities to vote. Our democracy and our futures depended on it.

Paid for by Black Women for Wellness Action Project

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The Texas law bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, which is before many people even become aware that they are pregnant, and allows no exceptions for instances of rape or incest. The ban also enables abusers to obtain control over a person’s reproductive rights by empowering anyone to sue to prevent a pregnant person from terminating their pregnancy. Moreover, the ban makes ordinary citizens bounty hunters, by incentivizing individuals to sue doctors and others who help a person access abortion with a $10,000 reward. SCOTUS’s unwillingness to intervene will effectively prevent women in Texas from exercising the constitutional rights that its landmark Roe v. Wade decision guarantees.

The abortion ban and SCOTUS’s failure to review the ban continue this country’s tradition of suppression of our sexual and reproductive rights. Black women and people with uteruses’ reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy, in particular, have been systematically restricted and attacked throughout our nation’s history; the ban and the failure to review the ban are simply more unjust burdens that will be felt most heavily by Black women and women of color. We have been denied the resources, services, and information necessary to make personal medical decisions about if, when, and how to parent. Not only are Black women and birthing people more likely to lack sex education and birth control access, but we also experience pregnancy-related complications and death during childbirth at a rate much higher than our white counterparts. Now, if we live in Texas, we must also seek alternatives, such as traveling hundreds of miles to another state to access abortions, which impose a significant financial burden.   

The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 has exacerbated the economic hardship and family obligations many Black women and parents already face—making options like out-of-state travel to obtain medical care a major obstacle, and therefore preventing people from making the reproductive choices that are best fit for them and their families. Moreover, those living with multiple marginalized identities in addition to being Black and femme—those who are disabled, currently or formerly incarcerated, LGBTQ+, low-income, survivors of domestic violence or intimate partner violence—are placed in an especially vulnerable position that makes it difficult to secure and exercise their reproductive rights.

 “S.B. 8 is a cruel and pernicious piece of legislation through which the Texas legislature masterfully engages its citizens to infringe on the constitutional rights of an entire class of people. It sanctions the surveillance and policing of the bodies of women and people with uteruses in an unprecedented way,” said Onyemma Obiekea, Policy Analyst, Black Women for Wellness/Action Project. This law is harmful in so many ways and is truly worrisome, as it creates a blueprint for other state legislatures to follow suit. SCOTUS’s refusal to intervene functions as a signal — a green light for states to enact these types of blatantly unconstitutional laws. The recent events underscore the importance of our participation in the political process — officials elected to office at all levels have a direct impact on our ability to lead a full, dignified, and free existence. The misplaced priority of the legislature is disconcerting; rather than making investments to improve access to healthcare or decrease the staggering maternal mortality rates, for example, it prioritizes oppression and surveillance of its very citizens.”  

 BWWAP denounces the Texas abortion ban. We stand with the women and other pregnant persons, families, health providers, and advocates in Texas who are raising their voices against this law! We will proudly continue the fight to advance reproductive justice and abolish oppressive structures that jeopardize our reproductive freedom, by building the political power of Black women in California.

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