The “Dad’s Got Something to Say” Congressional Briefing and Advocacy Day led by 4Kira4Moms is sponsored by Representative Lauren Underwood, in partnership with the Black Maternal Health Caucus and Dads Caucus, and co-sponsored by Bobbie for Change, What to Expect Project, Chamber of Mothers, and March of Dimes
Bobbie, the mom-founded and led pediatric nutrition company, and their social good and policy arm, Bobbie for Change, today announce their support for “Dad’s Got Something to Say,” an Advocacy Day spearheaded by 4Kira4Moms, an organization working to eradicate maternal mortality. The day will bring together male advocates in the maternal health space for a Congressional Briefing and Advocacy Day in Washington D.C. Fathers from all backgrounds will convene in the U.S. Capitol to push for legislative action supporting maternal health legislative initiatives, including the Dads Matter Act and four key Momnibus Act bills.
The event, sponsored by Representative Lauren Underwood in partnership with the Black Maternal Health Caucus and the Dads Caucus, aims to bring critical attention to the role of fathers in addressing the maternal health crisis in the U.S., where maternal mortality rates remain unacceptably high, particularly for women of color. Bobbie for Change, What to Expect Project, March of Dimes, and the Chamber of Mothers will meet with Senators and Representatives to drive support for maternal health improvements, particularly through the passage of the following five bills, all expected to be voted on by the end of 2024.
As a company that services new parents, Bobbie continues to help educate and mobilize the community behind this issue – and as a team of majority parents, including mothers who have personally experienced race-based medical bias, they are also proud to amplify the voices of their team. “For the past two years in partnership with 4Kira4Moms, we have been proud to support the families who come through 4Kira4Moms who have unexpectedly and tragically lost a mother during childbirth with a free year of Bobbie,” said Michele Lampach, the Bobbie for Change Lead and mother of two.
“The devastation of our maternal health crisis doesn’t just impact our moms,” said Rep. Lauren Underwood. “This is a family issue, and our dads are critical partners in our fight to pass the comprehensive solution that will end this crisis once and for all: The Momnibus. I’m so honored to welcome our partners and fellow advocates to our nation’s capital this week, and look forward to talking about our progress and the work ahead,” she added.
At the forefront of this day and movement to end maternal mortality is Charles Johnson, Founder of 4Kira4Moms, whose personal story and advocacy have ignited a national conversation on maternal mortality. Johnson will lead the coalition of fathers as they engage with lawmakers, media, and the public to demand increased support for maternal health policies. Through social media campaigns and live media coverage from Capitol Hill, these fathers are raising their voices in service of mothers, underscoring the essential role of dads in the fight to eradicate maternal mortality and improve birthing outcomes.
The legislation being advocated for includes:
- Bipartisan Dads Matter Act: This act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a public awareness campaign to increase awareness of the importance of father inclusion and engagement in improving overall health outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
- Bipartisan Moms Matter Act: This bill makes investments in programs to support moms with maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders. It also provides critical funding to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce.
- Kira Johnson Act: Named after Kira Johnson, this act makes investments in community-based organizations supporting mothers. It also funds bias and racism training programs, promotes research, and establishes Respectful Maternity Care Compliance Programs to address racism and bias in maternity care settings.
- Perinatal Workforce Act: This legislation makes historic investments to increase the number of maternity care providers and non-clinical perinatal health workers who provide culturally congruent care and support during and after pregnancy.
- Data to Save Moms Act: This act funds critical investments to advance evidence-based solutions to the maternal health crisis in the United States. One key provision – funding for maternal health research at Minority-Serving Institutions – was enacted through the Fiscal Year 2023 government spending package. The Data to Save Moms Act aims to further identify and fund interventions to save mothers' lives and end maternal health disparities.
These bills champion crucial policies aimed at expanding maternal health services and resources for families; supporting mothers through better perinatal and postpartum care; and improving maternal health outcomes, especially in underserved communities.
“Fathers who have personally experienced the devastating impacts of maternal health disparities along with the perinatal workforce (clinicians, doulas, and midwives) will be in attendance to advocate for better support systems and outcomes for mothers,” said Charles Johnson, the Founder of 4Kira4Moms. “We are proud to contribute to the private sector to offer data and solutions to advance maternal care as well as use Bobbie Motherboard influential figures who can leverage their platforms to raise awareness and amplify calls for legislative action,” added Lampach.
Speakers include:
- Charles Johnson - GA, Founder, 4Kira4Moms (Lived Experience - Maternal Mortality/CBO)
- Jonathan Webb - DC/MD, CEO AWHONN (Public Health: AWHONN)
- Armand Kadima - GA, Yolanda Shiphrah Kadima Foundation (Lived Experience - Maternal Mortality)
- Kier Gaines - DC, Licensed Therapist/Influencer (Mental Health)
- Jonathan Singletary - CA, Deputy Director birthFUND, Singer/Songwriter/Producer (Celebrity Dad)
- Dr. Haywood Brown - FL, Senior AVP of Faculty and Academic Affairs for USF Health; Vice Dean of Faculty Affairs & AD of Diversity for the Morsani College of Medicine; Professor Department of OBGYN; 68th President ACOG (Academia/Clinical)
- James Hogue - MO, CEO/Co-Founder Fathers Assisting Mothers Inc. (Doula/Advocate)
- David “DJ” Fernandez - LA, Co-Founder, Brooke Shandoff Fernandez Memorial Foundation (Lived Experience - Maternal Mortality)
- Gabrielle Albert - GA, Executive Director, 4Kira4Moms (Advocate)
- Michele Lampach - CA, Lead, Bobbie for Change (Advocate/Mother)
- Stacey Brayboy - VA, SVP Public Policy/Government Affairs, March of Dimes (Advocate/Mother)
- Heidi Murkoff - CA, CEO/Founder, What to Expect Project (Advocate/Mother)
In 2023, Bobbie for Change, elevated award-winning journalist and Bobbie MotherBoard activist Elaine Welteroth’s story of self-advocacy in pregnancy and childbirth. Her never-before-shared first-person story and choice to rely on midwifery outside of the hospital system was rooted in protecting herself and her baby against the backdrop of the horrifying realities of maternal mortality in the U.S. — the very same cause that inspired the establishment of nonprofit 4Kira4Moms.
In 2024, 4Kira4Moms launched a joint Congressional Letter campaign with Bobbie, What to Expect Project, birthFUND, Chamber of Mothers, The Victoria Project, and Birth Center Equity to enable U.S. constituents to send letters to their representatives, requesting support for all five bills.
For more information about Bobbie for Change please visit bobbieforchange.org.
About Bobbie
Bobbie is a purpose-driven organic pediatric nutrition company that exists to build a parenting culture of confidence, not comparison. Founded in 2018, Bobbie hit the market with its original European-inspired formula in 2021 as the first direct-to-consumer, subscription-based infant formula in the U.S. Today, it’s proud to be the only mom-founded and led infant formula brand in the U.S. and the fastest-growing in the U.S. since the 1980s. Bobbie is focused on providing purposefully sourced, USDA Organic products made with simple ingredients—crafted right here in America, for American families. For more information, visit www.hibobbie.com.
About Bobbie for Change
Bobbie for Change is the advocacy arm of Bobbie, the organic infant formula company, focused on advancing maternal health equity and parental support through policy reform and philanthropic initiatives. For more information, visit bobbieforchange.org
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