As women continue to die due to pregnancy or childbirth each year in the United States, new federal data shows that the nation’s maternal death rate rose significantly yet again in 2021, with the rates among Black women more than twice as high as those of White women. Experts said the United States’ ongoing maternal mortality crisis […]
Maternal mortality crisis among top concerns for state lawmakers, Shapiro admin
In his first budget address to state lawmakers last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro said that “for the first time” the commonwealth is going to put “real resources” into studying the root causes of Pennsylvania’s high maternal mortality rate, which is three times higher for Black women. A 2022 report from the Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee, which reviews […]
Early Care and Education in Governor Shapiro’s 2023-24 State Budget Proposal
HARRISBURG, PA (March 7, 2023) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2023-24 state budget proposal. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Start Strong PA, Pre-K for PA, Childhood […]
Resuming Medicaid case checks confronts 3.6M in Pennsylvania
The federal government’s pandemic-era prohibition against kicking people off Medicaid is ending, meaning that hundreds of thousands of people in Pennsylvania face losing the free health insurance in the coming year. The Harrisburg-based nonprofit Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children wants the Shapiro administration to guarantee that children up to 21 can keep their coverage for another […]
A report on Pennsylvania’s program for Women, Infants and Children finds there are barriers to participation for eligible families
From 2018 to 2022, there was a roughly 25% decline in participation in Pennsylvania’s WIC program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. WIC helps low income pregnant and breastfeeding parents and children under age five afford food. A report from Thriving PA looked into the barriers that are keeping people from participating […]
Oregon pioneers continuous Medicaid coverage for kids through their 6th birthday
Oregon is the first state in the nation that will allow kids with Medicaid coverage to remain continuously enrolled through their 6th birthday. This means low-income families won’t have to re-enroll every year to keep their kids insured. Gov. Kate Brown made the announcement Wednesday morning, alongside federal officials from the Centers for Medicare & […]
Early Learning PA: 2022-23 State Budget Grows Home Visiting, Child Care, and Pre-k
HARRISBURG, PA (July 8, 2022) – Today, the principal partners of Early Learning Pennsylvania (ELPA), a statewide coalition of advocates focused on supporting young Pennsylvanians from birth to age five, issued the following statements regarding the final 2022-23 Pennsylvania state budget. ELPA operates four issue-based advocacy campaigns: Pre-K for PA, Start Strong PA, Childhood Begins […]
POV: Overturning Roe v. Wade Will Worsen Health Inequities in All Reproductive Care
The recent national conversation has appropriately focused on the devastating impact of limiting or banning access to abortion care. Conservative estimates show that in the year following the overturning of Roe, at least 75,000 people who want, but cannot get, abortions will give birth instead. And these people are facing higher than ever—and rising—pregnancy-related mortality rates. […]
Thriving PA Statement About the Supreme Court’s Ruling Overturning Roe v. Wade
“Thriving PA supports access to comprehensive maternal health care services that meet individual physical and mental health needs. “Restricting access to reproductive health care will deepen inequities and increase maternal morbidity and mortality rates. Between 2013 and 2018, pregnancy-associated deaths increased by 21%, with Black women accounting for 23% of all pregnancy-associated deaths. “We will […]
‘Lead-Free Promise’ launches new Pa. initiative
PENNSYLVANIA (WHTM) — The Lead-Free Promise is launching the #paleadfree legislative promise initiative. It is a coalition of more than 53 organizations. Their goal is that each of the 203 state house members are committed to protecting Pennsylvania children by taking a stand against lead paint poisoning. The commonwealth continues to lead the nation in […]