For Immediate Release
Feb. 27, 2020
Contact:
Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
517-487-5436
NOTE: Some county data is included in this report and additional data is available upon request for several maternal and infant health indicators.
According to Right Start report, policy change and increased funding needed to help Michigan turn around national standing on maternal and infant mortality
Lansing—With the right investments, Michigan’s policymakers have the opportunity to correct the currently dismal outcomes for mothers and infants in the state, according to a new report from the Michigan League for Public Policy. The report, Strong Moms for Thriving Babies: Right Start 2020, examines the ways in which Michigan can use policies to improve the well-being of mothers and infants in Michigan.
According to the report, Michigan currently ranks 36th in the nation in terms of infant mortality and 30th in the nation for maternal mortality, and numbers are even more dire for moms and babies of color. Black infants in Michigan are more than twice as likely to die before age one than White infants.
“Policymakers really have an opportunity here to show their commitment to moms and babies, who are the foundation of a strong Michigan. It’s not going to be simple—a host of factors play a part in maternal and infant health—but we have evidence that the policy changes we’re recommending can go a long way in improving outcomes,” said Gilda Z. Jacobs, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy.
High-quality, comprehensive healthcare from preconception through the postpartum period is key, according to the report.
“Right now, Medicaid covers roughly 44 percent of all births in Michigan, but moms only have postpartum Medicaid coverage for the first 60 days after their child is born. Extending that coverage for the first year of a baby’s life means women have access to the care they need to heal after childbirth and manage physical and mental health conditions that could jeopardize their well-being and their infant’s well-being,” Jacobs said.
Racial disparities persist in the health of moms and babies, a fact that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer noted in her State of the State address last month and included in her Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies initiative. The report raises this issue, pointing out that the maternal mortality rate for Black women is three to four times that of White women. But according to the report, those trends are not the result of genetic differences or behaviors, but the result of racism and bias in our systems and communities. Right Start encourages policymakers to explore the health implications of racial discrimination in our society, which can lead to chronic stress and early health deterioration.
“We’ve all seen the scary headlines about outcomes for Black moms and babies. But it’s important to note that these negative statistics stem not from who these mothers are, but from the discrimination they face in systems like hospitals and schools. We don’t want to terrify Black women who are thinking about starting a family by telling them they’re in danger. We want to dismantle the racism and White supremacy that places them at risk. Gov. Whitmer’s Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies initiative includes a plan to partner with healthcare providers and universities to focus on implicit bias and barriers women of color confront when they seek healthcare, which is a good start,” Jacobs said.
Nonmedical factors like systemic racism, economic insecurity and lack of paid parental leave greatly influence health outcomes for mothers and infants, and the report recommends creating structural change, expanding Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit and developing family-friendly workplace policies to help strengthen Michigan’s families.
The Right Start report stresses the value of state and federal lawmakers investing in the expansion of home visiting programs, highly successful programs that offer moms and their children valuable health screenings, connecting families to other needed services and encouraging positive parenting practices shown to increase bonding between parent and child and early language development in young children.
The Right Start report also highlights the importance of broadening healthcare reimbursement rates for health services shown to optimize maternal and infant health outcomes, including doula services, group prenatal care and lactation consultation.
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Background: Improving maternal and infant health through policy change has been a priority for the Michigan League for Public Policy and its Kids Count in Michigan project for decades. Here are some additional materials on the subject:
2021 Budget Priority: Support Maternal and Infant Health (December 2019)
Healthy Michigan Plan Work Requirements: Impact on Maternal and Child Health (December 2019)
2019 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book and Kids Count Profiles by County (April 2019)
The Kids Count in Michigan project is part of a broad national effort to improve conditions for children and their families. Funding for the project is provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, Steelcase Foundation, Michigan Education Association, American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, United Way for Southeastern Michigan, DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Motor Company Fund, Battle Creek Community Foundation, and the Fetzer Institute. More state and local data are available at the Kids Count Data Center, www.datacenter.kidscount.org.
The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on economic opportunity for all. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
