Senator Baldwin discusses improving perinatal workforce at Milwaukee roundtable

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- At the Outreach Community Health Center in Milwaukee on Friday, June 4, Senator Tammy Baldwin hosted a roundtable on improving maternal health outcomes in Wisconsin. 

Black women are more than three times as likely to die from childbirth complications as white women. The U.S. also has the highest rate or pregnancy-related deaths among its peer countries. 

I’m at @OutreachComHeal in #MKE with parents and local leaders discussing the need to reverse the trend of rising maternal mortality rates.

Maternal and infant mortality rates are too high in Wisconsin, and they’re even higher in the Black community. We must do more now. pic.twitter.com/s9hAzyzWUL

— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) June 4, 2021

In response, Senator Baldwin introduced her Paternal Workforce Act. It improves access to maternity care and helps grow and diversify the perinatal health workforce. 

"The legislation establishes grant programs to increase the number of maternity care providers for prenatal health workers who are equipped to bridge cultural gaps and provide essential and supportive care throughout their pregnancy, labor and delivery and the post partum period," said Sen. Baldwin. 

Baldwin, along with Congresswoman Gwen Moore, first introduced the legislation in February.