Tag: maternal health

Black women breastfeed

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

This guest blog post was authored by Joyea Marshall-Crowley, CBS, Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition.

In the Wichita area, we have heard from Black and brown mothers that they are not even being asked about breastfeeding as an initial feeding choice, and that their healthcare providers assume they are formula-feeding their babies. This makes it difficult for Black and brown mothers to obtain breastfeeding resources, support, or information during pregnancy and upon delivery. It is imperative to have these supports for a woman’s breastfeeding journey, and it should be accessible to all mothers no matter their decision to breastfeed or not. 

The need for the Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition is clear.

Who is the Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition?

The Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition (WBBC) was formed in October 2020 under the non-profit organization Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition. The foundational vision for this local breastfeeding coalition is to help increase breastfeeding rates in the Black and brown communities of the Wichita Metropolitan Area.

The coalition currently houses six members. The outstanding members of the WBBC hold many titles, such as Certified Breastfeeding Specialist (currently on track to obtain their IBCLC), Certified Trained Doulas, Registered Nurse, Chocolate Milk Certified Trainer, Chiropractor, and Midwife, to name a few.

All WBBC members share the same passion for helping women of color gain the support, resources, and tools needed to reach their breastfeeding goals. We want mothers of color to have a safe space just for them to receive the breastfeeding support they need—and that is what they will get from the Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition.

“I Breastfed; This is My Legacy” 

Representation of Black women is so important when it comes to normalizing breastfeeding. This group is underrepresented, and there is already a stigma in the Black and brown community that breastfeeding is a “white” thing. When they see pictures and videos of breastfeeding mothers that heavily display white mothers as the focus it just reinforces the same message as the stigma and creates barriers. 

To dispel this myth, the Wichita Black Breastfeeding Coalition created a project called “Latched Legacy.” This project highlights and normalizes that Black women do indeed breastfeed. The campaign video shows Black mothers confidently sharing the statement “I Breastfed; This is My Legacy” while capturing them with their children and partners. The project’s goal is not only to increase breastfeeding initiation rates in the Wichita Metro Area but also to increase media representation for Black mothers regarding breastfeeding.

“Latched Legacy” campaign video

In conjunction with representation, this project has also allowed us to provide breastfeeding kits for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers of color. These kits include supplies and information to encourage them to initiate breastfeeding as their first choice upon delivery. As a result, we have a success rate of 95% of mothers who have received a kit while pregnant initiating breastfeeding as their first choice of feeding after delivery.  

Breastfeeding is for mothers of all backgrounds. We are changing the Black breastfeeding narrative one family at a time in the Wichita area. Every Kansas family should receive the resources and support they need to reach their breastfeeding goals. You can support new or expecting parents in your area by referring them to a local breastfeeding coalition or to an organization that provides breastfeeding resources.  

About the series

This is the final post in a series on breastfeeding in Kansas. Prior posts include:

How WIC supports breastfeeding

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

This guest blog post was authored by Heather Peterson RDN, LD, CLC, Reno County WIC Coordinator.

Every day, I look forward to going to work in WIC: we truly are the Happy, Healthy Baby People!

WIC is a supplemental food program that serves pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children to age 5. Nearly half of all babies born in the United States are eligible for the WIC program. In Kansas, 40% of babies participate in WIC. This program has evolved over the past two decades from a formula handout to a reliable source of breastfeeding support. WIC promotes breastfeeding as the optimal way to nourish a newborn. All WIC staff encourage a pregnant woman’s decision to breastfeed. 

A vast majority of women express a high desire to breastfeed their babies. Unfortunately, many of the women WIC serves return to work within two weeks of delivery. This can sabotage a woman’s desire to breastfeed. WIC offers several sources of support for breastfeeding moms.

The WIC food package for an exclusively breastfeeding woman is larger than any other food package and contains additional protein foods, including canned salmon or tuna. These fishes are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids that are important for infant brain development and overall health for the mom. Exclusively breastfeeding women enjoy a $47 per month fruit and vegetable benefit that allows them to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Women who are exclusively breastfeeding qualify for WIC foods until they are one year postpartum. Exclusively breastfed infants receive a large food package starting at 6 months of age to support their continued growth and development. 

One major benefit of the program is that many local WIC agencies participate in the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor (BFPC) program. BFPCs are exactly what their name implies, women that have recently participated in the WIC program and breastfed their children. The BFPC usually communicates with women via text message, phone calls, and social media, and are even available to support breastfeeding parents outside of regular office hours. 

Peer counselors will reach out to women during their pregnancy and offer reliable information about preparing to breastfeed, surrounding themselves with breastfeeding advocates, how to obtain a breast pump from their insurance, and what to expect the first days after delivery. Peer counselors can be a “social event director,” connecting pregnant and breastfeeding women in their community. Peer counselors will seek activities that are free of charge, such as playing at the splash pad, attending library time, gift-wrapping parties, and moms’ movie night out. One of our most popular events was a cooking class hosted by a local church. The foods were donated and each family took home a chicken noodle casserole they learned to prepare. This social time allows pregnant women to see how normal breastfeeding happens out and about whether the breastfeeding mom chooses to be discreet or open. 

Photos from Breastfeeding Peer Counselor events.

In the near future, families will have another trusted breastfeeding resource. Soon, each WIC agency will be required to have a Designated Breastfeeding Expert. This person handles more challenging breastfeeding issues. Breastfeeding is a learned skill. For some families, this comes easily and for others, there are more bumps in the road. Many physician’s offices will refer patients to WIC because they know there is reliable breastfeeding help available. 

Sharing information about supports like WIC is something we can all do to support parents. It’s easy to determine WIC eligibility. Potential participants can find their local WIC office by visiting signupWIC.com and entering their ZIP code. To participate in the Kansas WIC program, families must reside in Kansas and meet income guidelines, which can be found at kdhe.ks.gov.

As a community, we can help families to meet their breastfeeding goals. Supporting paid maternity leave legislation, creating breastfeeding-friendly work environments, designating a private space for a woman to breastfeed if that is her preference, and learning about the amazing benefits of breastfeeding are all things we can do to create an environment that encourages breastfeeding success. 

About the series

This is the fourth post in a series on breastfeeding in Kansas. Other posts include:

Musings on the importance of breastfeeding and a review of current recommendations

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

This guest blog post was authored by Sonder Crane, MD, IBCLC, Pediatrician, Chapter Breastfeeding Coordinator-Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“I think it’s time for mommy milk!” said my 5-year-old to my 2-year-old as their 1-month-old baby brother began to fuss. “Mommy milk” has always been the term for breast milk in our house, coined by our eldest when her sister was born. 

While celebrating National Breastfeeding Month, I remember my own breastfeeding experience. I was fortunate to successfully breastfeed all three of my children. I even had enough stored milk with my oldest two children that I was able to donate to a human milk bank.

My breastfeeding journey was relatively “painless” compared to others – if you don’t count the predicted engorgement, leaking, sore nipples, thrush for both me and my infant, and associated frustrations with finding appropriate times to pump while at work. (Thankfully, I had a very understanding employer.)

As a pediatrician and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, I also have the privilege of being part of the breastfeeding/chestfeeding journey with many of my patients and their caregivers as they work to provide nutrition for their infants. Not all of their journeys were as “painless” as mine. One case in particular stands out – a mother who came to me with her 2-month-old infant. The case was referred to me due to the infant’s poor weight gain. I worked with the mother and child over the course of about 2 years. We tried different techniques to support weight gain including different ways to give expressed breast milk, different feeding routines, elimination diets for mom, creative ways to introduce solid foods, and so many other things. We involved specialists in different fields to help support the child and mother. Ultimately, the baby did well and was growing and thriving the last time that I saw her. Her mother worked tirelessly to provide the nutrition that she needed to ensure adequate growth, even though it was not the breastfeeding journey the mother would have imagined for herself.

Why breastfeed? The importance of human milk (in brief)

Physiological Benefits to the Infant

  • Human milk has been proven to be the optimal source of nutrition for infants.
  • There are multiple aspects in the dynamic properties of breast milk including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory agents which contribute to the developing immune system of the infant and help prevent infection.
  • Breastfeeding can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), certain types of autoimmune disease (inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes mellitus, asthma, atopic dermatitis), leukemia, and obesity.

Physiological Benefits to the Mother

  • The act of breastfeeding can be beneficial to maternal health in helping mothers recover more quickly from childbirth, assisting with postpartum weight loss, reducing the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, reducing the risk of hypertension, and reducing risk of type 2 diabetes.

Intangible Benefits

  • Breastfeeding or chestfeeding facilitates maternal and infant bonding.
  • Breastfeeding can ultimately lead to a closer and more responsive infant/mother dyad.
  • It’s shown to reduce maternal stress and decrease cognitive and behavioral problems later in childhood.

What does the American Academy of Pediatrics say about breastfeeding and how do we promote and support breastfeeding mothers and their babies?

Here’s a summary of the most recently updated (July 2022) AAP Recommendations on Breastfeeding:

  • Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life (consistent with guidelines provided by World Health Organization, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Family Physicians, and Canadian Pediatric Society)
  • Continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods introduced at 6 months for as long as desired, 2+ years
  • Recognize that medical contraindications to breastfeeding are rare
  • Birth hospitals and centers should implement maternity care practices shown to improve breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity
  • National tracking of breastfeeding rates through age 2 years
  • Policies should be in place to protect breastfeeding
    • Universal paid maternity leave
    • Right to breastfeed in public
    • Insurance coverage for necessary items and care in breastfeeding
    • On-site child care in the workplace
    • Universal break time and adequate accommodations for human milk expression at work
  • Recognize that pediatricians (and all those caring for infants) play a critical role in breastfeeding success
    • Providing evidence-based information on feeding choices
    • Supporting early skin-to-skin contact and skilled lactation support while in the hospital
    • Using current resources to give guidance and minimize disruptions in breastfeeding when questions arise due to maternal medications, medical conditions, or vaccinations
    • Acquiring up-to-date information on the benefits of breastfeeding and how to provide breastfeeding care in the office and the community
    • Advocating for culturally sensitive and appropriate policies to promote breastfeeding
    • Assisting parents with preterm infants on establishing milk supply when infant is unable to feed at the breast and the use of pasteurized donor human milk

The graph above shows 2018 national breastfeeding rates for the infants in the breastfeeding dyad exclusively at 3 and 6 months of life, 6 and 12 months of life, and any breastfeeding at all throughout 0-12 months of life. Each age range is broken down into race and ethnicity at that stage. As evidenced above, we are making progress in supporting our lactating mothers and breastfeeding infants but there is always room for improvement. The education is ongoing as we strive to advocate for the breastfeeding dyad.

There are two excellent local upcoming opportunities for education as we welcome Dr. Joan Younger Meek to Grand Rounds at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, on September 15, and at the Kansas Chapter of the AAP Fall CME Meeting at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita, KS, on September 16. Dr. Meek is the lead author of the new policy statement published July 2022 on “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk” in the Journal of Pediatrics and a leading expert on breastfeeding and lactation. Please attend her presentations if you have the chance. In the meantime, Happy National Breastfeeding Month!

About the series

This is the third post in a series on breastfeeding in Kansas. Other posts include:

Policy changes could address disparities for Kansas mothers and children

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

This commentary originally ran in the Kansas Reflector on May 9, 2022. About the authors: Dr. Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of Topeka USD 501, and Dr. Shannon Portillo, associate dean and professor at the University of Kansas, served as co-chairs of the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice; David Jordan, president and CEO of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, chaired the subcommittee on healthcare.

Investing in the earliest years of a child’s life — through supporting mothers and children — is an evidence-based approach to improving education, economic, health and social outcomes for a person’s entire life.

The Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice examined maternal and child health, early childhood development and child care to understand how to address systemic issues that affect education attainment, economic opportunity and health across Kansas. To address opportunity gaps, the commission’s final report made recommendations in the areas of early education and care and maternal and child health care.

Maternal and child health are early indicators of future public health challenges, which is why it’s critical for mothers and children to have the healthiest start to life. In Kansas, mothers and children of color and from low-income households are more likely to be left behind, making it important to address inequities prenatally.

Addressing disparities can begin earlier with implementation of programs for parents, community members, and providers that focus on birth equity, training providers to avoid implicit bias as part of the birthing process and empowering parents to seek culturally appropriate care. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment should partner with community-based groups like the Kansas Birth Equity Network to offer their evidence-based birth equity training to mothers and families.

The commission recognizes the important role culturally competent providers play in improving care before, during and after pregnancy and recommends Medicaid increase access to culturally competent care by prioritizing recognition and reimbursement of credentialed members of the health care team, such as community health workers, home visitors, doulas and lactation consultants.

One commission recommendation came to fruition thanks to the leadership of Gov. Laura Kelly and the Legislature. Postpartum Medicaid coverage has been extended from 60 days to 12 months, ensuring 9,000 mothers retain access to health care when the mother is still at risk for complications, including pregnancy-related death.

To ensure Medicaid coverage improves health outcomes, the commission recommended broadening Medicaid coverage to include comprehensive maternal benefits. These investments are central to the health of new mothers and babies and recognize that social drivers of health, such as food insecurity, can be addressed by linking Medicaid beneficiaries to nutrition assistance and breastfeeding supports through SNAP and WIC.

Evidence-backed interventions such as home-visiting, early literacy promotion, and robust care coordination would foster optimal child development and strengthen nurturing caregiver-child relationships.

To give a data starting point to track Kansas’ efforts to address disparities, the state should publicly report measures of maternal and child health disaggregated by race and ethnicity as well as service location.

Kansas is one of the states where the uninsured rate for kids is increasing, and it disproportionately affects children of color. The uninsurance rate for Kansas children rose from 4.6% in 2016 to 5.8% in 2019. Kansas could decrease the number of uninsured children by enabling continuous coverage for children ages 0 to 5 and streamlining the eligibility process. Consistent coverage would improve access to regular and timely check-ups.

Investing in early learning and development can have significant return on investment. According to the Heckman equation, investment in and access to high-quality early learning and child care will improve student success and career achievement, especially for our most vulnerable students. It will also reduce state spending on education, health and criminal justice.

The commission often heard that Kansas child care is in crisis. It’s expensive and in short supply.

Kansas could prioritize using American Rescue Plan funds to strengthen the child care system, focusing resources on communities of color and vulnerable communities. Kansas should maximize Child Care Development Funding from the federal government and explore how to increase participation of families and providers in the child care subsidy program. Increased federal funding and use of child care subsidies can strengthen the system and make high-quality child care more accessible.

Through the Kansas Child Day Care Assistance Credit, businesses provide child care or help employees locate it. To improve access to services, Kansas should expand the types of businesses  eligible for this credit and eliminate the reduction of benefits that occurs after the first year when covering the cost of on-site care.

The health and well-being of Kansas mothers and children is critical to the health of our state. By making policy changes to support expanded maternal care, and high-quality health care and child care for our youngest Kansans, we can reduce disparities for people of color in our state.

About the series

In June 2020, Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 20-48, forming the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice. The Commission studied issues of racial equity and justice across systems in Kansas, focusing first on policing and law enforcement and then on economic systems, education, and health care. The Commission developed recommendations for state agencies, the Legislature, and local governments. Through the end of 2022, Commissioners will dig deeper into the Commission’s recommendations in a monthly series.

Related resources

Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice reports
Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice webinar series
2022 opinion series on commission recommendations

Black maternal health crisis conversation

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

Among industrialized countries, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate. In Kansas, the maternal mortality rate is 14.8—meaning 14.8 women die for every 100,000 live births. Black women are more likely to die than white or Hispanic women.

Dr. Sharla Smith of the Kansas Birth Equity Network joined Health Fund CEO David Jordan for a conversation on the Black maternal health crisis.

Conversation with Dr. Sharla Smith of the Kansas Birth Equity Network

“Black women are two to three times more likely to die of childbirth-related issues than white women,” said Dr. Smith. “We’re seeing that crisis happen in the absence of the social determinants of health. So, Black women from the wealthiest communities still have worse outcomes. Black educated women still have worse outcomes than all other women.”

Postpartum coverage extension is great news for Kansas families

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

Through its new budget, Kansas is taking an important step in improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Today, Governor Laura Kelly signed the new budget bill which contains funding for extending postpartum KanCare (Medicaid) coverage from 60 days to 12 months. 

More than 30% of Kansas births are covered by KanCare. Extending postpartum coverage will allow mothers to access early interventions and coordinated care, preventing postpartum complications that arise more than 60 days after delivery. Now more mothers will have health insurance and access to care in the first full year postpartum when the mother is still at risk for complications, including pregnancy-related death. 

In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, a temporary federal expansion of postpartum benefits to 12 months has allowed mothers to access or continue accessing health care and mental health services that provide both mother and child with a healthier start to life. A significant aspect of these improved health outcomes results from mothers being able to access early interventions and coordinated care, preventing postpartum complications that arise more than 60 days after delivery and keeping chronic conditions from worsening due to early identification and intervention.  

Last year, the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund (Health Fund) and 28 partners urged the Kansas Legislature to permanently extend postpartum coverage.   

“We commend Governor Kelly and the Kansas Legislature for extending postpartum KanCare coverage to 12 months,” said David Jordan, president and CEO of the Health Fund. “This will positively impact 9,000 Kansas mothers each year—reducing maternal mortality, improving health outcomes, and reducing disparities.” 

Extended postpartum KanCare is an important step toward improved health for mothers. We need to remain attentive to and advocate for mothers’ access to quality physical and mental health care in all Kansas communities. 

Related Materials 

In Support of Postpartum Coverage
Extending postpartum Medicaid coverage in Kansas will improve health of mother and infant

Wrapped in God’s Embrace: Maternal Health, Flourishing, and Building Communities of Care

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

The United Methodist Health Ministry Fund (Health Fund) is pleased to release a maternal health sermon guide. The Health Fund is committed to supporting the health and wholeness of all Kansans, including mothers. Maternal health intersects with two of our priority focus areas: Access to Care and Early Childhood Development.

Maternal and child health are early indicators of future public health challenges, which is why it is critical for mothers and children to have the healthiest start to life. Healthy mothers are important to building healthy families, but mothers often face mental and physical health issues that, without timely support and care, can impact not only their own well-being and quality of life but also present additional hurdles to the work of caring for children and loved ones. Infrastructure, supports, and communities of care for mothers are necessary for all Kansans to have the best start in life.

Research shows supporting a strong start to life for mothers and babies and investing early creates not only the best health outcomes, but also the greatest return on investment. At the Health Fund we are committed to ensuring mothers and our youngest Kansans enjoy nurturing family environments, so they are primed for healthy lives.

Beyond supporting program and policy investments, we want to create a loving and caring environment that supports maternal health, which is why we created this sermon guide.

This sermon guide, Wrapped in God’s Embrace: Maternal Health, Flourishing, and Building Communities of Care, acknowledges the vocation of motherhood and its impacts on family and community life. When considering maternal health, consider it as all issues related to the well-being of persons who give birth and/or take on the labor of motherhood in the lives of children. These issues include reproductive health, preventive care, mental health services, and emotional support services for mothers, as well as the points at which children’s health intersects with maternal health. This sermon guide will challenge readers to take a closer look at how mothers and their children are supported inside and outside of the church and the ways a child’s health is tied closely to their parent’s health and access to health care.

Through interpretative principles, this guide will address the often unseen struggles of motherhood, identify biblical text that will empower mothers, and will ultimately encourage readers to advocate and support for the health and legacy of motherhood and the well-being of the next generation.

Each week includes a call to worship, hymn selections, children’s sermon, call to action, and benediction, in addition to an exegesis and sermon notes section based on the week’s scripture passage. Week 1 introduces Mary’s birth story in the Gospel of Luke as a window into postpartum health and the supports women need in the first hours, days, and weeks of motherhood with a new child. Week 2 centers around the Canaanite Woman and the work of mothers as advocates for the well-being of the family, followed by Week 3 in which we witness how God guides Elijah, the Widow of Zarephath, and her son to form a community of care in the midst of hardship and crisis. The guide concludes in Week 4 with a return to Mary the Mother of the adult Jesus who, as a grown child, shows the fruit of secure attachment in early childhood.

Downloads
Sermon guide and Toolkit
Bulletin Insert 1 | Bulletin Insert 2
Bulletin Insert 3 | Bulletin Insert 4

Nationwide Resources

Kansas Resources

United Methodist and Faith-Based Resources:

We’d love to hear from you! Did you use the sermon guide and/or toolkit? Would you be willing to share your feedback and experiences? Questions or suggestions? Please email us at hcnews@healthfund.org.

Resources in this sermon guide

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Social Media Tiles

Below are social media tiles to help you promote the series. We would love to know if you use the guide—please tag us on Twitter or Facebook (@umhealthfund).

Facebook

Twitter

In Support of Postpartum Coverage

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

We support and invest in early childhood initiatives because research shows investing early creates the best health outcomes and the greatest return on investment. To ensure the healthiest start for Kansas kids, we also support policies that lead to healthier parents and healthier families.

Health Fund President David Jordan recently submitted testimony to both the Kansas House and Kansas Senate in support of extending postpartum KanCare coverage to 12 months, universal home visiting, and adding adult dental coverage to Medicaid benefits.

Extending postpartum Medicaid coverage in Kansas will improve health of mother and infant

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

This opinion piece by Health Fund President and CEO David Jordan and Topeka Public Schools Superintendent Tiffany Anderson originally appeared in the The Topeka Capital-Journal on December 21, 2021.

Kansas can improve future health outcomes for families by extending health care for new mothers and infants.

Unfortunately, significant racial disparities exist in maternal and child health. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, national pregnancy-related mortality rates among Black and American Indian and Alaska Native women are more than three and two times higher, respectively, compared to the rate for White women.

In Kansas, non-white minority women are nearly twice as likely to die within a year of pregnancy as non-Hispanic white women.

To ensure mothers and babies have a healthy start to life and to reduce these inequities, we must ensure all mothers have health coverage for the first year of their child’s life.

In 2018, KanCare covered 39% of Kansas births. Before the COVID-19 public health emergency, each year over 9,000 mothers lost KanCare coverage 60 days postpartum.

Extending postpartum KanCare coverage to 12 months can save lives, improve health outcomes, prevent interaction with the child welfare system, reduce disparities and save the state money.

Recent federal policy change creates the opening for Kansas to extend postpartum coverage. Other states like Indiana and Tennessee are taking advantage of this opportunity.

A 2021 report released by the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity & Justice detailed 13 recommendations for improving maternal and child health, including extending maternal Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum. The report recognized the important role of improving access to care in reducing health disparities.

Extending coverage can save lives. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported 66% of all pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. The Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee found that between 2016 and 2018 nearly one-quarter of Kansas pregnancy-related deaths occurred between 43 days and one year postpartum. Nearly half of all pregnancy-associated deaths occurred in the same period.

A child’s health is tied closely to their parent’s health and access to health care. Parental enrollment in Medicaid is associated with a 29% higher probability that a child will receive an annual well-child visit.

Postpartum care provides mental health services as women gain services for clinical depression. Nearly 20% of Kansas women below 200% of the federal poverty level experienced postpartum depression in the year after giving birth.

According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, between fiscal years 2012 and 2017, parental substance use was the primary reason 70% of children under the age of one entered foster care. Extending postpartum coverage would enable mothers to access substance use services that could prevent interaction with the child welfare system.

Extended postpartum coverage is predicted to lead to a decrease in long-term Medicaid costs through the provision of early medical interventions and coordinated care, preventing postpartum complications and worsening chronic conditions resulting from delays in early identification and intervention.

Due to the public health emergency, Kansas cannot discontinue postpartum coverage after 60 days. This temporary policy change has enabled mothers to access critical health care and mental health services.

With new mothers experiencing isolation and mental health challenges due to the public health crisis, it’s critical to extend coverage to maintain postpartum checkups and treatment of chronic health conditions to prevent future adverse health outcomes.

The public health emergency is set to end this spring. The time to act is now, or each year 9,000 new Kansas mothers will lose KanCare coverage to the detriment of their health, their children’s health and long-term family stability.

Let’s create better outcomes for Kansas families by permanently extending postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months.

Tiffany Anderson is the superintendent of Topeka Public Schools and co-chair of the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice. David Jordan is the president and CEO of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and a member of the commission.

Women & Children First

Posted on by Lindsey Fields

Addressing maternal and child health disparities in Kansas

This opinion piece by Health Fund President David Jordan originally appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of Kansas Child magazine.

All Kansans should get to live in communities where good schools, healthy environments, safe homes, quality jobs, and access to health care and high-quality goods and services are the norm.

To achieve that goal in Kansas, we need to address long-standing racial and ethnic disparities in health, poverty rates, and educational attainment. Addressing these inequities is complex, but improving the health and well-being of mothers, infants, and children is a critically important strategy. It is predictive of future public health challenges for families, communities, and the health system.

We need to address long-standing racial and ethnic disparities in health, poverty rates, and educational attainment.

Unfortunately, significant racial disparities exist in maternal and child health. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation brief highlighted:

  • Black and American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) women have higher rates of pregnancy-related death compared to white women.
  • Black, AIAN, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) women are more likely than white women to have births with risk factors that increase the likelihood of infant mortality and that can have long-term negative consequences for children’s health.
  • Infants born to Black, AIAN, and NHOPI women have markedly higher mortality rates than those born to white women.

These disparities, in part, reflect increased barriers to health care among people of color. To improve access to health care for people of color in Kansas and to ensure every Kansan has an opportunity for a healthy start in life, we must:

  • Invest in prenatal care and equity-­based birth education.
  • Improve access to prenatal services for women of color.
  • Improve access to comprehensive health care by expanding Medicaid eligibility, extending postpartum coverage to 12 months for new mothers, and continuously covering children ages 0-5.
  • Invest in a culturally competent health care workforce.

Investing in maternal and child health policies can address long-standing inequities in Kansas as well as improve health outcomes, school readiness, and long-term financial earnings.

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