Advocacy

The time to move the
The Michigan Momnibus -
(SB 29-32, 34 and 36-39) is now!! 

Together, we achieved something powerful: the Michigan Momnibus passed the Senate with bipartisan support. Now, we must move this transformational package of bills through the House before the current legislative session ends.

Together, we passed the Senate.

Together, we can pass the House.

Together, we will move the MI Momnibus.

MOMNIBUS IS US

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Send emails or calls to House Reps!

2025 Legislative Actions

March 2025:

The Michigan Momnibus bill package passed the Senate and is headed to the House.

January 2025:

Michigan lawmakers reintroduced the Michigan Momnibus bill package this month aimed at improving maternal healthcare for people of color, addressing gaps where the state has fallen behind. While some bills in the “MI Momnibus” stalled at the end of the last legislative session, with your help we will get the bills passed this year.

Birth Center Licensure Bill

On January 21, 2025 HB 5636 was signed into law by Governor Whitmer.

Thank you for your support in making birth center care accessible for more birthing people in the state of Michigan. Michigan joins the 42 other states that license birth center. WE DID IT! ​​​

  • The Birth Center Bill is a community-based initiative. Michigan State of Birth Justice is a state-wide coalition that includes members in rural, suburban, and urban communities. Forming the Birth Center Bill has been a collaborative process from the start, which included: Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs) and Licensed Midwives (LMs); the presidents of both midwifery Associations The Michigan Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and Michigan Midwives Association; birth center owners; and diverse community birth stakeholders from all parts of the state.

    The Birth Center Bill was created to address the needs of families and midwives in Michigan who want more access to birth centers. The fact that 30% of counties in MI are rural and that there are obstetric deserts throughout the state were driving forces behind this bill.

    The states with the most birth centers are also states that have had birth center licensure the longest and have Medicaid reimbursement for birth centers. This bill aims to decrease hardships by increasing families’ access to midwifery care - especially those most impacted by perinatal health inequities. Increased access for families also supports birth center sustainability.

    Medicaid requires birth centers to be licensed for reimbursement. This bill will help birth centers open and stay open.

Laptop displaying a website titled "MI State of Birth Justice" with a graphic of Michigan state, a photo of two women in front of a banner, and a document page with text about Michigan's maternal health and birth justice initiatives.

MI State of Birth Justice

The MI State of Birth Justice is a community coalition working to build urban-rural partnerships to increase access to midwifery care across the state of Michigan. Our purpose is to educate, inform, and engage our communities statewide in realizing Birth Justice.

Michigan Momnibus Package: the package would increase access to alternative birthing care throughout the state, such as birthing centers and midwives, while addressing systemic racism to improve outcomes for Black mothers.

View MI Momnibus Package 

Roe v. Wade

Abortion is health care, and bodily autonomy is critical for keeping our communities safe. Communities of color have always organized to keep ourselves safe. We won’t back down. We will continue to fight for reproductive justice for everyone. 

​We understand the gravity of this time and want to encourage those looking to get care, donate, and/or organize to choose Black, Indigenous, people of color-led organizations.

  • Birth Detroit provides safe, quality, loving midwifery care to all birthing people - regardless of ability to pay. 

    Call (313) 977-0962 for an appointment or donate here today. 

    mothering JUSTICE is a grassroots policy advocacy organization that provides mothers of color in America with the resources and tools to use their power to make equitable changes in policy. 

    iDecide Detroit is a network of teen-friendly reproductive health care providers that offer services like condoms, birth control, STI testing, and treatment. Call (313) 876-4319 for an appointment. 

    Detroit Abortion Clinic at Summit Women’s Health Center remains committed to supporting reproductive health through abortions, confidential pregnancy options and birth control counseling, on-site prenatal sign-up for insurance through the State of Michigan and complete contraception education and services.

  • Midwest Action Coalition helps people traveling to, from, and within the Midwest access a safe, legal abortion with support in the following areas: travel coordination and costs, lodging, food, medicine, and emotional support.

  • Abortion care network (ACN) is the national association for independent community-based, abortion care providers and their allies. Together ACN works to ensure the rights of all people to experience respectful, dignified abortion care.

    National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) builds power to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by centering people who have abortions and organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and reproductive justice.

     For white folks, understanding white supremacy is crucial to turning the tide. This document from ProgressNow Colorado may be helpful:

    Talking Points for White Women to talk about White Supremacy & Reproductive Justice in our communities

Here are a few recommendations:

Infographic outlining Birth Justice Agenda policy goals, including growing Black midwives in Detroit, supporting families to access birth options, sustaining community birth initiatives, promoting racial and gender equality in birth rights, with sections on research support, reimbursement, licensure, integration, and coverage.

Birth Justice Agenda

Birth justice is the human right to a safe and respectful birth experience. 

This includes our rights to bodily autonomy, the power to make choices, and access to midwifery care. Birth Detroit believes that all people deserve access to all safe birth options. Our mission is to midwife safe, quality, loving care through pregnancy birth and beyond. We envision a world where birth is safe, sacred, loving and celebrated for everyone. 

Our values are Safety, Love, Trust and Justice.

View Agenda
Three women smiling and standing together in front of a backdrop with logos related to justice and equality, with one wearing a pink blazer, another in a green shirt, and the third in a black T-shirt.
Two women smiling at a gathering, wearing matching black T-shirts with a colored map of Florida and the words 'Love My Duvies.' One woman has curly hair and wears a bright blue blazer, while the other has dreadlocks and is wearing a black T-shirt. Th
Two women smiling, one holding a baby, standing in front of a backdrop with various logos, including 'MamaPower', 'Sister Song', and 'Elephant Circle'.
Three women smiling and holding a pregnant woman's belly, standing in front of a backdrop with logos for Birth D Ethics, Mattering Justice, and others.
Two women smiling and standing close together indoors, one wearing glasses and a beige jacket, the other with curly hair and a colorful jacket, with a background showing other people and artwork on the wall.
Group of women gathered indoors, holding a sign that reads 'Birth Detroit,' smiling at the camera, with bookshelves in the background.
A woman with dark hair smiling while holding a young girl with curly hair and big eyes, sitting in a cafe or restaurant. The woman is wearing a dark top, and the girl is dressed in a green outfit with ruffle details and a pink scrunchie on her wrist.
Two women smiling and hugging at a gathering justice event, one holding a white tote bag that reads 'Mamas is Everybody', the other wearing a black T-shirt with rainbow colors and a message advocating love and equality.
Two women smiling and posing for a photo at an indoor event; one woman has dark hair and the other has short, platinum blonde hair, and the woman with platinum blonde hair is wearing colorful earrings. In the background, a girl is clapping and smilin
Group of young women in teal and black Wayne State College of Nursing sweatshirts standing with a man in a blue sweater, all smiling at an art gallery exhibit.
A group of women and children gather indoors, some wearing shirts with the phrase "Love My Emoves" and a child in a pink plaid hoodie being held by a woman.
Four women standing together holding signs that read "MamaPower" and "Birth Detroit" at a Reproductive Justice event, smiling in front of a step and repeat banner with logos and text related to reproductive justice and organizations.
A man and woman engage in a serious conversation at an art gallery, with several other people and vibrant artworks in the background.
Two women smiling standing close together at an event with a backdrop featuring a map of the United States and the words 'Mothering Justice.' Both women are wearing black T-shirts with colorful rainbow designs.
Two women hugging each other in a colorful, lively room filled with records, artwork, and a DJ setup.
A woman with braided hair and hoop earrings smiling while holding a 'Birth Detroit' sign at an event with a backdrop featuring logos for Justice and reproductive justice organizations.
Six women and one baby standing together inside a store, smiling at the camera. The woman on the far right is holding the baby. The women are dressed casually, and one is holding a drink. The store has shelves with bottles and boxes in the background
Two women smiling and holding signs that say "MamaPower" and "Birth Detroit" at an event promoting motherhood and justice in Detroit.
A woman dressed in camouflage military clothing holding a young child in a baby carrier inside a room with shelves full of books and boxes in the background.
A woman standing on a stage, speaking into a microphone, wearing a black blazer, a black t-shirt with rainbow colors and the words "Love My Dives," and a blue pleated skirt. She has a small black purse with colorful hearts and wears orange platform s

Keep Parents and Newborns Together in Critical Hours after Birth 

Birth Detroit and Black Mothers Breastfeeding Association (BMBFA) believe that parents and newborns should not be separated and the risk of COVID-19 infection should be minimized in ways that support bonding and attachment.

Despite recent guidance from national and international public health organizations, some Metro Detroit hospitals are separating people who test positive for COVID-19 from their babies immediately after birth. This means people are not being allowed to have skin-to-skin contact with and breastfeed their newborn babies in the critical first hours after birth. It also costs health systems more money to provide nursing care for the infants who are separated.

Learn more