(WASHINGTON, DC) – This week at the 86th United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) Annual Meeting in Boston, Mayors from across the United States of America adopted a resolution introduced by Mayor Bowser, which urges jurisdictions to prioritize maternal and infant health. Co-Sponsored by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh; New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio; Philadephia Mayor Jim Kenney; and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, the resolution urges mayors to establish or expand Maternal Mortality Review Committees to examine how to improve maternal care and maternal health outcomes. Mayor Bowser will be hosting a Maternal and Infant Health Summit in Washington, DC in September with Mayors and leaders from across the country, including the African American Mayors Association.
“Here in Washington, DC, we are working every day to ensure all women have an equal opportunity to access health care and achieve well-being before, during and after child birth —regardless of background, zip code, or income,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “That is why I’m excited to convene my peers from cities across the country who share my sense of urgency in reducing chronic health inequities and I’m honored that they have adopted our resolution to improve maternal care, making sure we’re getting it right for families across the country.”
The Mayor’s framework for addressing infant and maternal health is outlined in this year’s “Perinatal Health and Infant Mortality Report” and built on the following goals:
- Every teenage girl and woman in DC is in control of her reproductive health.
- Every pregnant woman receives patient-centered, high-quality prenatal care beginning in the 1st trimester.
- Every healthcare provider has the tools and resources they need to provide quality care and manage complex social needs of women and infants.
- Every healthcare facility providing maternal and infant care has the tools and resources to practice evidence-based healthcare and to document Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance activities.
- Every newborn receives high-quality neonatal care in the hospital and outpatient setting.
- Every parent has the life skills and resources needed to nurture and provide for their family.
- Every infant, mom, and dad has a safe and healthy environment to thrive and receive the support they need to promote early childhood development and learning.
Serving as the USCM Food Policy Task Force Co-Chair, Mayor Bowser also co-led a resolution with Mayor de Blasio, advocating for protections for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and federal nutrition programs in the 2018 Farm Bill. The nutrition portion of the Farm Bill provides critical food assistance to 41 million Americans, more than half who are children and seniors. The resolution also opposes proposals to place onerous work requirements related to SNAP.
Bowser co-sponsored several resolutions that reaffirm our #DCValues including resolutions related to common sense gun reform, support for our immigrant communities and DREAMers, investments for affordable housing and homelessness, and women’s empowerment.
The full list of adopted resolutions can be found at http://legacy.usmayors.org/resolutions/86th_Conference/proposed-preview.asp.