South OC Times

U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Robin Kelly (IL-02), co-chairs of the Maternity Care Caucus, introduced a bipartisan resolution (H.Res 1444) to recognize September 14 to 20, 2024, as National Birth Center Week. The initiative aims to raise awareness about birth centers and their significance in maternal health care.

Birth centers offer patient- and family-centered services that support healthy perinatal outcomes for mothers and babies while reducing barriers to care for underserved communities.

“Birth centers are based on the midwifery model of care and provide quality, affordable maternity care for women and families, no matter their zip code. Sixty percent of mothers meet risk criteria for birth center care in the United States. That is why supporting our midwifery-care workforce is so important,” said Congresswoman Kim. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan resolution to recognize National Birth Center Week and highlight birth centers’ contributions to healthier maternal and infant care and outcomes. As co-chair of the Maternity Care Caucus, I will keep working to deliver results and support women, babies, and families.”

“Far too often, mothers don’t receive the care they need and deserve due to racial disparities in our healthcare system or due to healthcare deserts. More than 2.3 million reproductive-aged women live in maternity care deserts,” said Congresswoman Kelly. “As a mom and grandmother, it’s unacceptable that younger generations of Black women face a higher chance of dying during birth. Birth centers help close equity gaps by providing high-quality care during birth and postpartum, guided by principles of safety, shared decision-making, and appropriate medical intervention. Together with my co-chair Rep. Kim, we support and celebrate the essential role that birth centers play in our communities.”

Kate Bauer, executive director of the American Association of Birth Centers stated: “The evidence shows that midwifery-led birth centers are a high-value solution for providing culturally centered care to advance maternal health outcomes. We are thankful to Rep. Young Kim and Rep. Robin Kelly for bringing Congressional recognition to this important health care model.”

The resolution supports several goals related to National Birth Center Week:

- Celebrating birth centers for providing safe patient- and family-centered care for underserved communities in support of births.

- Recognizing National Birth Center Week by encouraging families, communities, health institutions, policymakers, and regulatory agencies at all levels of government to learn more about birth centers’ midwifery model.

- Supporting increased use of the birth center model to expand access to high-quality affordable care.

Rep. Kim has been advocating various maternal health priorities as co-chair of the Maternity Care Caucus:

- Addressing nurse workforce shortages through the bipartisan National Nursing Workforce Center Act (H.R. 2411).

- Improving stillbirth research with the bipartisan Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act (H.R. 5012).

- Supporting domestic violence victims via the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (H.R. 2604) along with backing legislation like H.R. 1620.

- Urging updates from Health Resources Administration on the effectiveness of the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.

- Enhancing screening/treatment outcomes for maternal mental health/substance use disorders.

- Securing key maternity priorities in FY24 appropriations bill.

- Highlighting concerns over U.S maternity mortality crisis.

Read the full resolution HERE.