The Maternal Justice Coalition of Long Island (MJC) champions equitable maternal healthcare for all. We drive systemic change, increase awareness of and decrease health disparities, empower marginalized voices, while fostering a supportive network that ensures safe, informed, and respectful care from preconception through postpartum.

 

The Women's Diversity Network has partnered with the Health & Welfare

Council of Long Island to build upon the foundation of our coalition,

combining our strengths to amplify our collective impact in advancing

maternal justice. Together, we envision a future where every individual

has access to the care and support they need to thrive during the

maternal journey, free from discrimination, stigma, and barriers.

 

The MJC is a part of the “birth justice” movement. The Coalition defines

"birth justice” as a movement to dismantle inequalities of race, class,

gender, and sexuality that lead to negative birth outcomes and

experiences which lead to maternal morbidity and mortality. 

​

It is a disturbing reality that in communities of color, mothers or their
babies are significantly more likely to die during or shortly after birth
than in surrounding predominantly white communities. A recent report
shows that New York and Long Island have a bigger gap between Black
and white maternal mortality than the nation as a whole. The Coalition
was created in response to this glaring need to address maternal health
inequities locally and nationally.

 

The Coalition aims to decrease implicit bias, health inequity, and racial disparity in the maternal care of Black women and Black birthing people.

The MJC is composed of diverse, complementary organizations, agencies, clinicians, and individuals, and acts as one cohesive force in creating community support for best practices that promote and increase positive maternal outcomes for Black women and other vulnerable populations. Some of our partners are Birth Justice Warriors, the Long Island Doula Association, and the Suffolk County Office of Minority Health.

 

The Coalition commits to:

• Advocacy: Collaborate with policymakers to develop and implement policies that address maternal health inequities and expand access to quality care.

• Education: Provide resources and training to healthcare providers and community members to foster understanding and awareness of maternal health issues.

• Support: Establish a community support system that includes peer networks, counseling, and educational workshops to empower birthing individuals and families.

• Research and Data: Promote and support research initiatives to better understand the maternal health landscape on Long Island, ensuring data-driven advocacy.

• Equity: Center the experiences of marginalized communities in our work, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued in the maternal health conversation.

 

The Goals of the Coalition:

• Equitable Access to Doula, Midwifery, & Lactation Services: Ensure equal access to doula and midwifery services across all counties. Including but not limited to education and implementation of Doula Friendly Hospital Guide, and recruitment of doulas for the Medicaid reimbursement system.

• Education & Legislative Advocacy: Create workshops to educate pregnant people, the general public, systems, and providers. Collaborate with policymakers to develop and implement policies that address maternal health inequities, expand access to quality care, and ensure paid sick leave for new parents caring for their children.

• Data Transparency Agreements:  Establish contracts with hospitals to promote data transparency.

• Mental Health Screenings for Birth Workers: Ensure all birth workers conduct mental health screenings, including GAD-7 for anxiety and PHQ-9 for depression.

• Safe Spaces for Black Women: Create supportive environments where Black women can access healthcare safely including the successful launch of a birth center.

• Perinatal and Postpartum Kits: Creation and distribution of perinatal and postpartum kits to at risk communities.

 

We have over 30 Coalition Members. 

If you are interested in joining the
Maternal Justice Coalition
go to: tinyurl.com/MJCSignUp  

If you have any questions, please reach out to info@womensdiversitynetwork.org or 516-218-6099.