As a supporter of Neighborhood Birth Center, midwives, and birth justice, I am deeply concerned about the federal attacks on reproductive health care and Medicaid. I want to see Neighborhood Birth Center and other birth centers and community-based maternal health organizations open and thrive.
Neighborhood Birth Center is working to open Boston’s first freestanding birth center and will be the only BIPOC-led birth center in New England. Despite a recent setback in zoning, they are in deep partnership with the City of Boston, state public health leaders and the community and are confident that Boston WILL have its birth center. And they are also exploring a second site for a birth center in Lynn.
I ask you support Amendment # 1014 filed by Rep Chris Worrell to allocate $500,000 to Neighborhood Birth Center to help open birth centers that will serve two diverse communities.
In addition to Amendment #1014, I also ask you to support NBC’s other budget priorities so we can offer the highest quality maternity care throughout the state and fully implement the historic Maternal Health Omnibus from last year.
- Amendment #1457, filed by Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, would provide $350,000 for Seven Sisters Midwifery and Birth Center in Northampton.
- Amendment #1029, filed by Representative LeBoeuf, would provide $100,000 for Worcester Community Midwifery.
- Amendment #1049, filed by Representative Brandy Fluker-Reid, would provide $350,000 to community-based perinatal mental health programs.
- Amendment #1573, filed by Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, would provide $2,960,000 to support DPH in its implementation of the Maternal Health Omnibus including postpartum home visiting, midwifery integration, and more.
