Perinatal (during pregnancy and up to a year after birth) Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) impact at least 20% of moms, but are widely underdiagnosed and untreated, leaving moms and other parents to suffer in silence. BIPOC and low-income mothers are more likely to experience PMADs but less likely to receive care.

The Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition has come together to address this need. We are focused specifically on the Massachusetts Moms Matter Act -- a bill establishing two grant programs to expand and diversify the perinatal mental health workforce and invest in community programs that support the mental health and well-being of birthing people and other new parents.

This spring the Moms Matter Act was released from the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery with a favorable report, and is now being considered by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Now that committee needs to meet and give the bill a favorable report in order for it to move forward in the legislative process toward passage.

Can you help? Join us in writing to Speaker Mariano and the Health Care Financing Committee Chairs, Sen. Cindy F. Friedman and Rep. John J. Lawn, Jr., to urge them to report the bill out favorably as soon as possible.

Thanks so much for taking the time to make your voice heard!

--The Massachusetts Mind the Gap Steering Committee

Jessie Colbert, Executive Director, Mass. PPD Fund
Stephanie Crawford, M.Ed, Founder, Propa City Community Outreach
Ashley C. Healy, Esq.
Jenise Katalina, MSW, LICSW, Founder, Rise Leadership and Coaching, LLC, Leadership Team, Women of
Color Health Equity Collective
Kerry McCarthy, Cape & Islands Perinatal Wellness Alliance
Jessica Paulino, The EMA Project
Dr. Jo-Anna Rorie, CNM, MSN, MPH, FACM, PhD, Nurse Coordinator, Bridges to Moms, Board Member, Bay State Birth
Chloe Schwartz, MPH, Director, Maternal Infant Health, March of Dimes Boston/New England Market
Gwendolyn Van Baalen, LMHC, MT-BC, CEIS
Tiffany Vassell, RN, Founder, Nurses for Black Maternal Health and Equity Organization, Neighborhood Birth Center