Black Maternal Health Week Webinar with Michigan Advocates: Community Voices in Maternal Health Policy

Panelists 

• • Amy Zaagman, Executive Director, Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health 
  • Ta’Sheena Williams, Policy Director, Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health 
  • Cassy Jones-McBryde, Founder, The Michigan Chamber for Reproductive Justice 

Jacy Montoya Price, from the Alliance, opened the discussion by situating the event within a national movement to elevate Black maternal health and acknowledged the foundational work of groups like the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. She emphasized that maternal health is central to early childhood well-being and that real progress requires intentionally including the voices of those directly impacted. 

Amy Zaagman, executive director of the Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (MCMCH), then described how her organization has evolved over four decades to become a roundtable for maternal health advocacy, bringing together public health, medical, and community partners. She highlighted MCMCH’s strategic focus on addressing racial disparities through policy and emphasized the importance of aligning their agenda with community priorities rather than institutional convenience. 

Zaagman detailed how Michigan’s maternal health outcomes mirror national trends, with Black and Indigenous birthing people facing far worse outcomes. In response, MCMCH launched the Birth Equity Education Project, a multi-year effort funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The project involved deep dives into maternal and infant health topics, creation of policy briefs, and—critically—interviews with Black women across the state to center their experiences in shaping policy recommendations. These insights are now being used to develop new resources, including an online library and multimedia content aimed at decision-makers. 

Ta’Sheena Williams, MCMCH’s Policy Director, led this qualitative research. She interviewed Black mothers about their birth experiences at hospitals across Michigan. Her findings were sobering: many participants reported feeling dismissed, rushed, or judged based on race or insurance status. Several described post-birth trauma, inadequate support, and a lack of respect from healthcare professionals. Despite these challenges, participants were eager to share their stories—many for the first time—expressing a strong desire to help improve the system for others. Williams’ interviews revealed key systemic issues, such as poor continuity of care, lack of birth plan support, and a general failure to treat birthing people with empathy and dignity. 

Their work has already informed significant policy wins in Michigan, including the codification of regional Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, new mandates for insurance coverage of blood pressure monitors and mental health screenings, and legal recognition of maternal care levels and verification processes. They also celebrated movement on the Michigan Momnibus, a legislative package focused on maternal health equity. 

To amplify community voices, MCMCH partnered with MoMMA’s Voices, a national organization that trains patient-family partners (PFPs) to use their birth experiences to drive change. Two Michigan PFPs shared video reflections about how the training gave them the tools and confidence to advocate in legislative hearings, hospital collaboratives, and academic settings. Their testimonies underscored the power of storytelling in shaping policy and institutional culture. 

The final portion of the webinar featured Cassy Jones-McBryde, founder of the Michigan Chamber of Reproductive Justice and policy lead for the State of Birth Justice Coalition. She offered an overview of the Michigan Momnibus, a legislative package co-created by midwives, doulas, and grassroots advocates across the state. The Momnibus includes bills to ensure insurance coverage for midwifery care in all birth settings, prohibit discrimination against pregnant and lactating people, require better state data collection on mistreatment in maternal care, and protect informed consent in hospital transfers. Jones-McBride emphasized that the package is grounded in love, community power, and a vision for joyful, dignified birth—not just survival. 

She also pointed out the urgent need for reimbursement and investment in community-based birth workers. While Michigan has made progress—such as launching a Medicaid-covered doula benefit and a doula scholarship fund—barriers remain. The conversation acknowledged ongoing concerns about state surveillance and the importance of maintaining community autonomy, even as public funding expands. 

The webinar closed with reflections on what gives the speakers hope. For Zaagman, it’s seeing people with lived experience take on advocacy roles. For Williams, it’s the long view—that every generation builds on the last, and this moment is part of a bigger arc toward justice. For Jones-McBride, it’s the recognition that community voices are being heard and that lawmakers are increasingly supporting transformative policies, often with bipartisan backing. 

Together, the speakers offered a compelling blueprint for maternal health work rooted in trust, respect, partnership, and policy change driven by the people most affected. The message was clear: community-based organizations, especially those led by Black women, are not only essential—they are leading the way. And the rest of the system is finally starting to follow. 

Additional resources: 

More on AIM Patient Safety Bundles

The Obstetrics Initiative aimed at reducing primary c-sections 

Michigan Momnibus (SB 29) bill language and analysis

More on the Alliance’s Alabama Experience   

The BMHW25 Official Playlist!