Maternity Care Coalition supports community organizing on the childbirth crisis to help make citizen's voices heard by city, state and federal legislators.
Organizing and Advocacy in Southeastern Pennsylvania
The closure of maternity units have created different situations in different communities. MCC works with communities, such as Northeast Philadelphia and Chestnut Hill Philadelphia, to bring citizen voices to decision makers.
Childbirth Crisis Video
Watch the video shown at the Northeast Philadelphia Town Hall Meeting
Families in Northeast and all of Philadelphia must have accessto safe and affordable prenatal care and
Community members continue to work for the return of maternity services to Northeast Philadelphia. Learn more by visiting Womencare and email
to find out the next meeting.
City Council Testimony
Alan McHale, Olivia Hamilton, and Prudence Humber delivered testimony to City Council requesting the city's financial investment in returning maternity services to Northeast Philadelphia.
Constituents Deliver Postcards to Northeast Legislators
On January 31st, several Northeast Residents delivered over 400 postcards to their state representatives.
Sue Rosenthal, Chair of Health Center # 10 Community Advisory Board and long-time activist, led the conversation between constituents and legislators.
Constituent Kathy Rodriguez with Senator Stack.
Jose Miranda accepts postcards on behalf of Senator Kitchen from constituent Alan McHale.
Representative Sabatina accepts postcards from constituent Myles Gordon.
Tom Forkin, Executive Director for Speaker of the House Dennis O'Brien accepts postcards from constituent Marilyn Bradshaw (on the Speaker's behalf).
Al Taubenberger, President of the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce.
Northeast Town Hall Meeting
November 2007, over 125 concerned citizens participated at a town hall meeting, expressing their concerns about the lack of maternity services and made a collective call for change! Watch our Childbirth Crisis video!
Zack Stalberg, CEO of the Committee of Seventy and former editor of The Daily News, acted as moderator for the event.
Allison McDonagh, pregnant and mother of two at this time, explains the increased difficulties women in the Northeast face due to diminishing maternity services.
(from left to right) John Domzalski, Acting Health Commissioner; Letty Thall, MCC Director of Public Policy, (standing); ML Werneke, PA Department of Public Welfare representing Secretary Richman (standing); Anthony Wilson, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Health; Melita Jordan, CNM, PA Department of Health; Dr. Calvin Johnson, PA Secretary of Health.
Childbearing families, nurses, doctors, midwives, and government officials explored the city's childbirth crisis at a November 29th, 2007 Northeast Philadelphia Town Hall Meeting moderated by Zack Stalberg of the Committee of Seventy. The event was held at St. John's Lutheran Church, courtesy of Reverend Sandra Brown and Reverend Neil.
Sponsors: the Community Board of Public Health Center # 10; Maternity Care Coalition; Counseling or Referral Assistance (CORA); Castor Gardens Town Watch; Dungan Civic Association, Fox Chase Homeowners, Friends of Tacony Creek Park; Holmesburg Civic Association, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Holy Terrors Youth Organization, Lawncrest Town Watch; Lansing Knights Youth Organization, Mayfair Community Development Corporation; Millbrook Civic Association, Parkwood Civic Association, Rhawnhurst Town Watch; Somerton Youth Organization; Somerton Civic Association; Tacony Civic Association; The Academy Sabres; Upper Holmesburg Civic Association; and Upper Northwood Community Council.
(from left to right) Speaker of the House, Representative Dennis O'Brien, and State Representative John Sabatina, expressed their support at the event.
Despite vibrant organizing against it, Chestnut Hill Hospital closed its maternity unit September, 2008. Check out which maternity units remain available in our region.
Rally at the Capitol in Harrisburg
On June 12, 2007, Senator Leanna Washington sponsored a rally at the PA State Capitol to ensure access to childbirth services.
Sen. Tartaglione (far left) and Rep. Cherelle Parker (far right) join with moms rallying at the capitol for birthing services.
Sen. Leanna Washington addresses the crowd as (from back left to right) Rep. Tony Payton, Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, Rep. Babette Josephs, and Sen. Shirley Kitchen make a stand for families.
Sen. Kitchen alongside smaller activists seeking more care for women across the Commonwealth.
February 2007 Rally at Chestnut Hill Hospital
Chestnut Hill residents react to the threatened closure of Chestnut Hill Hospital maternity unit by rallying in front of the hospital, urging the hospital administration to keep the unit open.
MCC Deputy Director, Bette Begleiter, speaks to the crowd gathered to demand the maternity unit at Chestnut Hill Hospital remain open, noting that we are no longer at a crossroads, we are in a childbirth crisis.
Rallying for Chestnut Hill's maternity unit to remain open are (left to right) MCC staffers Iliana Dejesus, Mariana Kuperman, Bette Begleiter, and board member Sara Lomax-Reese with son Julian.
City Council Resolution
In 2006, MCC published the Childbirth at a Crossroads report with over 50 recommendations to improve the healthcare choices and outcomes for all childbearing families in light of current lack of appropriative care for our increasingly diverse population; inadequate healthcare for our neediest; a declining pool of providers; continued health inequities across the region; and a continuing deterioration of birth choices for childbearing families at all income levels. Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown presented MCC with a City Council Resolution endorsing the recommendations in the report .
(from left to right) Letty Thall, MCC Director of Policy, and JoAnne Fischer, MCC Executive Director, accept the Resolution from City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown.
As follow-up to MCC's comprehensive look at maternity care in our Childbirth at a Crossroads report, MCC surveyed the three managed care organizations' (MCOs) provider directories and found that, in the summer 2007, they were more than 85% inaccurate. Often, listed providers were no longer available; the phone number was wrong; or the site listed no longer offered prenatal care. Out of more than 1,500 listings, only 139 providers at 61 prenatal care sites were available. The wait time for an appointment averaged just above the two-week standard.
MCC met with all three MCOs and the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare. The unintended consequences of inaccurate information was recognized and changes were made by some of the MCOs to assure consumers have accurate and easily accessible information. The Department of Public Welfare (DPW) has also made changes in their procedures to make sure consumers have accurate information.
Healthcare for Pennsylvania
MCC staffers gathered at the PA State Capitol to support Governor Rendell's healthcare plan.
Visit our Take Action page to find ways to support positive policy changes to improve health!
Health reforms would shift the health care industry towards preventative, rather than defensive, care. Defensive care (treating a health problem at its advanced stage) costs more to society; worsens already insidious and persistent racial and class health disparities; and places the U.S. 29th in life expectancy against other industrialized countries. Check out UnnaturalCauses.org and the video clip below:
Prescriptive Authority for Midwives!
The bill providing prescriptive authority to Certified Nurse Midwives, passed the state legislature and was signed into law by Governor Rendell on July 20, 2007. MCC gave testimony and submitted comments on the regulations from this new policy to the Independent Review Commission.
Maternity Care Coalition joined Senator Robert Casey along with Representatives Chaka Fattah and Allyson Schwartz to celebrate the passage of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This incredible victory includes lifting the ban on immigrant children and pregnant women who have been in the country legally for less than 5 years. More children will now have access to health care when they need it.
Senator Casey speaks on the importance of children's access to health care.
(left to right) Representative Chaka Fattah, Representative Allyson Schwartz, Bette Begleiter (MCC), Kistine Carolan (MCC), Maddy Malis (Federation Early Learning Services) and Senator Casey.
Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Guidelines
H.R. 5613: CMS announced regulations that will drastically impede Pennsylvania’s ability to provide comprehensive health care, including CHIP. In response, the U.S. House secured a veto-proof margin and passed H.R. 5613-The Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008- by a vote of 349-62. The measure would impose a moratorium on a series of Medicaid regulations that could cost the nation $50 billion over the next five years, and PA about $270 million over the next two years. The measure was sponsored by U.S. Reps Dingell (D-MI) and Tim Murphy (R-PA).
Federal Funding for Community-Based Doulas
Chicago Health Connection led advocacy efforts to request Congress to include funding for Community-Based Doula programs in the Federal budget. We thank PA Senators Casey and Specter for their support because these programs improve infant health, strengthen families, and ensure ongoing family success.
Impact of Doulas:
+ Fewer pre-term births
+ Improved prenatal care
+ Increased breastfeeding rates
+ Increased birth weight
+ Fewer medical interventions
+ Delay in subsequent pregnancy for
teenagers
+ Fewer c-section deliveries
+ More positive birth experiences
+ Increased mother-child interaction
+ Improved parenting skills
MCC Advocates Danyell Williams (far left, back row) and Becca Pfender (far left, front row) lobbied in D.C. for continued funding of Community-Based Doula Programs.
Cover All Kids
CHIP now Covers All Kids, visit the web site to sign up!
Cover All Kids legislation was passed in late October 2006, expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) so that all children in PA are covered! MCC joined a number of groups, including Public Citizens for Children and Youth and Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, to educate the public about the importance of all children having health coverage. We met with several key legislators, wrote opinion editorials, conducted several letter-writing campaigns, and presented testimony.
.JPG)
.JPG)
