Maternal and Child Health and Mental Well-Being: Cornerstones of a Thriving Community: Webinar Resources

The health and mental health of mothers, birthing parents, and fathers form the foundation of a child’s well-being, a family’s stability, and a thriving community. Yet, for too many—especially in historically marginalized communities—maternal health outcomes are overshadowed by preventable complications, high mortality and morbidity rates, and systemic failures that leave families without the care and support they deserve.

When maternal and perinatal health and mental health is prioritized, families are stronger. Access to quality prenatal and postpartum care, mental health support, and stable social and economic resources ensures that mothers and all birthing parents can stay healthy, recover well, and build a strong foundation for their children and families to flourish. However, many communities, particularly those impacted by systemic inequities, face perinatal care deserts, where access to essential maternal health and mental health services are severely limited or nonexistent. These gaps, combined with barriers to health and mental health care, racial disparities, and economic instability, continue to put the lives of mothers, birthing parents, and babies at risk, making it critical to address these systemic failures with sustainable, community-driven solutions.

In this webinar, we discussed why maternal health and mental health must be at the center of family and community well-being. This webinar highlights the urgent need for systemic change, explore solutions that address maternal health inequities, and emphasize the role of policy, healthcare, and community support—including the role of fathers– in ensuring that every family receives the care they need.

Slide deck