The MHEC Advocacy Team uses community organizing and power building principals to uplift Black and Brown families and advance health equity.
We achieve this goal by centering families and their voices/experiences, and organizing stakeholders to listen and uplift those expressed needs.
Currently, we are developing our 2025 legislative policy agenda. We are building a broad coalition of policy institutes, associations, organization and individuals who will stand up for Black women and demand health equity.
Families and birthworkers are building this agenda- we are supporting and uplifting their voices and priorities to build a robust agenda that touches every level of policy change - local, state and federal.
Get involved!
Keep reading to learn more about our past work.
More of MHEC’s past work and accomplishments:
Advocating for affordable childcare access at the Day Without Childcare Rally
Advocating for adequate doula coverage and reimbursement under Medicaid - partnering with TDA and uplifting the voices of the community-based doula
Ongoing: Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee - we pay close attention to these meetings and reports, advocating to keep community voice at the table, supporting the elimination of the redaction process, and counting all perinatal maternal deaths in the state.
Supporting the passage of the 12 month Postpartum Medicaid extension (passed in 2023, in effect in 2024)
Advocacy regarding the delayed 2022 Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee report including organizing weekly stakeholder calls, alerting the media, creating a social media campaign, and conducting a press conference and rally at the Texas Capital. (Read more below!)
“Texas DSHS released the long awaited Maternal Mortality & Morbidity Report!”
Thursday, December 16, 2022, the Texas Mortality and Morbidity Review Board’s Commissioner finally released the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity report, over three months past it’s September 1st due date. Accompanying the report, is a letter to the governor and key information in a supplemental infographic. The report contains data that can be used to save the lives of black birthing people and make childbirth safer for all.
The MHEC coordinated action- demanding a release of the data with the help of legislatures, community members, policy influencers, and supporters like you. Thank you.
Because of the powerful advocacy efforts of MHEC members and community stake holders, this report is now available publicly, to inform life saving initiatives that improve maternal mortality and morbidity rates for Black families.