Celebrating the Expansion of Medicaid Eligibility for Postpartum Mothers!
Being a new mom is one of the most demanding jobs in the world. Pregnancy can have a huge physical and emotional toll on a mom, and having a new baby in the house can be overwhelming, especially for moms dealing with postpartum depression or other mental health struggles.
When Alaskan mothers are supported, Alaskan children are also supported, and potential instances of child abuse and neglect are averted
At ACT, we know that when Alaskan mothers are supported, Alaskan children are also supported, and potential instances of child abuse and neglect are averted. That’s why one of ACT’s advocacy focus areas is ensuring mothers have the necessary care and medical coverage to build a healthy foundation with their newborn baby. This legislative session, we are extremely grateful to Governor Dunleavy for proposing the extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months and thankful to the Alaska legislature for passing the bill, Senate Bill 58.
41% of cases of child abuse and neglect in Alaska involve children birth- age 4
We know that data backs this extension of coverage. Of all substantiated child abuse and neglect cases in Alaska, 41% involve children birth to age 4, with children aged 0 to 1 at highest risk. By extending postpartum coverage, new mothers will have more time to deal with post-birth health issues such as postpartum depression, a condition that increases a family’s risk of entering the child welfare system.
Postpartum depression, often not evident until six months or more after a baby is born, is associated with an array of negative outcomes for both mothers and babies, including:
decreased child safety practices;
reduced emotional and developmental learning opportunities;
decreased health check-ups, which can result in missing key developmental milestones; and
bonding difficulty between mother and child, which is a primary predictor of child abuse.
Senate Bill 58 ensures mothers and babies are healthy at delivery and in the months that follow and is in line with efforts we’ve seen in many other states. Because of the help of our supporters, partners, and advocates, Alaska Children’s Trust was able to help advocate for this bill, for mothers, and for babies. Our advocacy efforts for the bill included a fly-in to Juneau to meet with legislators, letters of support for the House and Senate versions of the bill, verbal testimony in all four committees the bill went through, and strategic advocacy to engage partner organizations across the state in mutual support.
Without you, we could not do this important advocacy work that ensures Alaska’s systems prevent, rather than perpetuate, child abuse and neglect.
This Mother’s Day, will you give to ACT so that we can continue to advocate on behalf of Alaskan mothers? When we take care of mothers, we build a strong foundation for children’s futures and prevent child abuse and neglect. Give today and know that you are helping ensure a bright future for Alaska’s children and youth.
Data Documents (click to follow links):
