Mississippi’s Maternal Health Crisis Demands Transformation. The Momnibus Act Answers the Call.
- Zakiya Summers
- Jan 22
- 3 min read
Mississippi continues to face one of the most severe maternal health crises in the nation, with Black women disproportionately impacted by preventable complications and deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth. Addressing this crisis requires more than isolated reforms—it demands a comprehensive, coordinated policy response.
The Mississippi Maternal Health Legislative Package that I've introduced is a holistic framework designed to strengthen maternal health outcomes across the full continuum of care. This package brings together three core policy pillars: the Mississippi Maternal Health Momnibus Act, Father Engagement in Maternal Health, and a Maternal Health Education & Workforce Pipeline.
Together, these initiatives work to improve access to care, strengthen families, build a sustainable maternal health workforce, and address the systemic inequities that place Mississippi mothers at risk.
The Mississippi Maternal Health Momnibus Act is a comprehensive set of policies designed to transform how Mississippi supports mothers before, during, and after pregnancy.
The Momnibus Act recognizes that maternal health is not limited to childbirth alone—it is shaped by access to healthcare, mental health services, community supports, economic stability, and systemic accountability. The legislation advances a coordinated approach that addresses these factors together, rather than in isolation.
Key focus areas include:
Expanding access to prenatal and postpartum care, particularly in underserved and rural communities
Strengthening maternal mental health screening, treatment, and follow-up care
Investing in community-based care models that improve outcomes and reduce disparities
Improving data collection, transparency, and accountability to better track maternal outcomes
Addressing social determinants of health that impact pregnancy and recovery
The Momnibus Act is designed to move Mississippi away from piecemeal solutions and toward a maternal health system that is proactive, preventive, and equitable.
Strong maternal health outcomes are closely linked to family support systems. The Father Engagement in Maternal Health component of this legislative package recognizes the critical role fathers and partners play in improving outcomes for mothers and babies.
This legislation promotes whole-family approaches to maternal health by:
Encouraging father involvement throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period
Supporting public education efforts around fatherhood engagement and family wellness
Promoting awareness of paternal mental health and its impact on maternal and infant outcomes
Strengthening coordination between healthcare providers and families
By intentionally including fathers and partners in maternal health strategies, this measure reinforces stability, shared responsibility, and healthier outcomes for families across Mississippi.
Mississippi’s maternal health crisis is compounded by persistent workforce shortages and limited pathways into maternal health professions—particularly for students from underserved communities. The MS Medical Education Pipeline and Readiness Act addresses these challenges by creating structured pathways that connect education, training, and employment in maternal healthcare fields.
This component focuses on:
Establishing early exposure and career pathways for students interested in maternal health careers
Strengthening collaboration between K-12 education, higher education institutions, and healthcare systems
Expanding training opportunities for maternal health professionals, including community-based providers
Building a sustainable, culturally competent workforce equipped to serve Mississippi families
By investing in education and workforce development, this pipeline ensures that Mississippi is not only addressing today’s maternal health needs but building long-term capacity for the future.
The Mississippi HBCU Maternal Health Workforce Pipeline Act establishes a targeted workforce development initiative focused on maternal health through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Mississippi.
This bill aims to:
Create structured education, training, and career pathways that prepare students—especially those from underrepresented and rural communities—for careers in maternal health fields
Strengthens partnerships between HBCUs, clinical training sites, and healthcare systems
Supports the long-term expansion of a diverse, culturally competent maternal health workforce capable of improving outcomes across the state.
The bill will assist with recruiting and retaining our best and brightest to enter into the field of medicine and create a target group of healthcare professionals that can provide care to the most vulnerable populations across the state.
A Comprehensive Vision for Mississippi Mothers
The Mississippi Maternal Health Legislative Package reflects a clear understanding: maternal health outcomes are shaped by systems—not single moments or single policies. The Momnibus Act, Father Engagement initiatives, Education Pipeline and Readiness Act, and the HBCU Maternal Health Workforce Pipeline Act are intentionally aligned to work together, creating a maternal health infrastructure that supports women, strengthens families, and builds lasting solutions.
This package represents a commitment to dignity, safety, accountability, and equity for every Mississippi mother and child—because no woman should risk her life to give life.