MHAAT-pronounced Ma’at Maternal Health Access, Advocacy & Transformation

11/09/2026

SACRED SUNDAY MOMENTS

When the Body Carries What the Heart Cannot Put Down

What allows a mother to choose herself when everything around her tells her not to?

Some mothers carry more than we can see.

The stress of caregiving. Financial uncertainty. Fear. Discrimination. And the expectation to remain strong, even when exhausted.

Over time, chronic exposure to these pressures can take a toll on the body. Researchers call this weathering.

But weathering isn't simply about stress. It's also about the conditions that make stress difficult to escape.

Why This Matters

Maternal well-being is not simply about making healthier choices. It's about having the support, safety, and opportunity to make those choices possible.

This Sacred Sunday, we invite you to reflect:

What have you been carrying that your body deserves permission to release?

And what support would make that possible?

Because caring for mothers means caring about the conditions in which they live.

Healthy Moms. Healthy Families. Healthy Indiana.

Grounded in the Body • Guided by the Mother
Centered in Dignity • Driven by Justice

MHAAT™ | Maternal Health Access, Advocacy & Transformation

In community partnership with Northern Indiana Chapter of The Links, Incorporated

11/05/2026

MHAAT™ | Transforming Maternal Health Outcomes

Every mother deserves to be heard, supported, and empowered.

At MHAAT™, our mission is to transform maternal health outcomes through access, advocacy, research, and education.

We believe meaningful change begins by listening to mothers, honoring their experiences, and ensuring they have the knowledge, resources, and support to thrive before, during, and beyond pregnancy.

Our work is guided by four foundational principles:

Grounded in the Body.
Guided by the Mother.
Centered in Dignity.
Driven by Justice.

Together, we can transform maternal health—one mother, one family, and one community at a time.

Learn more: www.mhaat.org

Visual Disclaimer: Images and video footage are used for illustrative purposes only. Individuals depicted are not identified as MHAAT participants and should not be assumed to have experienced pregnancy complications, adverse birth outcomes, or other medical conditions.

© 2026 MHAAT™ Maternal Health Access, Advocacy, & Transformation, LLC. All rights reserved. Educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

11/02/2026

Sacred Sunday Moments | Culture Matters

Moving From Listening to Mothers to Being Shaped by Mothers

Yesterday, November 1, 2026, marked an important milestone for MHAAT™ as we presented our conceptual research poster, Reframing Maternal Healthcare: A Culturally Responsive Approach to Maternal Voice and Care, at the American Public Health Association (APHA) 2026 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

At the heart of this work is a fundamental proposition:

Maternal knowledge and clinical expertise must be recognized, respected, and enacted to shape care.

Through the MHAAT™ Reciprocal Humanization Framework, we are exploring how critical consciousness, epistemic justice, and culturally responsive care can transform the relationship between mothers and clinicians.

Because cultural responsiveness is more than recognizing differences. It is about honoring lived experiences, respecting maternal knowledge, and creating healthcare relationships grounded in dignity, reciprocity, and shared understanding.

This is the heart of Culture Matters.

Our presentation represents another step toward advancing MHAAT’s mission of transforming maternal health outcomes through access, advocacy, research, and education.

We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important national conversation and look forward to the collaborations and possibilities ahead.

Grounded in the Body • Guided by the Mother • Centered in Dignity • Driven by Justice.



© 2026 MHAAT™ Maternal Health Access, Advocacy, & Transformation, LLC. All rights reserved. Educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

10/22/2026

10/11/2026

⚖️ Sacred Sunday Moments
Healthy Moms. Healthy Families. Healthy Indiana.

Medicaid & Care After Pregnancy

A mother’s healthcare should not end when her pregnancy ends.

Indiana gives eligible moms 12 months of Medicaid coverage after pregnancy. When that year ends, some moms may still qualify for Medicaid. Others may need a different health plan.

What Is Changing?

Medicaid: Income limits are higher during pregnancy. After the protected year ends, different rules may apply.
Work Rules: New rules start in 2027 for some adults in Indiana’s Healthy Indiana Plan. Pregnant women, moms with protected postpartum coverage, and qualifying parents or caregivers of children age 13 or younger are exempt.
Coverage Reviews: Starting in 2027, many adults in Medicaid expansion will have their eligibility checked every six months.
Insurance Costs: Extra help paying for ACA Marketplace plans ended in 2025. Many families now pay more, but some financial help is still available.
Children: Children do not have to meet the new work rules. They may still qualify for Medicaid or CHIP even if a parent does not.
⚖️ Culture Matters

Coverage matters. Cost matters. Continuity matters—care should not stop when coverage changes.

Moms living with high blood pressure, heart problems, depression, or other health needs deserve care beyond the first year.

Every mother deserves care that is affordable, respectful, and honors her culture.

Why November Matters

Ask candidates:

“How will you help moms and children keep health coverage they can afford?”

⚖️ MHAAT™ Takeaway

A healthy pregnancy deserves a healthy year after birth—and care beyond it.

Coverage opens the door. Affordable, ongoing care helps keep it open.

Grounded in the Body. Guided by the Mother.
Centered in Dignity. Driven by Justice.

Sources: Indiana Medicaid and FSSA; CMS; Public Law 119-21; KFF.

10/05/2026

⚖️ Sacred Sunday Moments
Healthy Moms. Healthy Families. Healthy Indiana.

Doulas, Midwives & Community-Based Care

Maternal healthcare does not happen only inside a hospital.

Healthy mothers need a connected village of care that includes clinical providers, doulas, midwives, community based organizations, families, and mothers themselves working together before, during, and beyond pregnancy.

What Does the Village Do?

• Doulas provide nonmedical emotional, physical, educational, and advocacy support.

• Midwives are trained healthcare professionals who provide maternity care within their scope of practice.

• Community based organizations bring education, navigation, resources, advocacy, and trusted support closer to where mothers live.

⚖️ Culture Matters

Trust matters. Culture matters. Being heard matters.

Community based care can help bridge the space between healthcare systems and the everyday lives of mothers. It can help mothers understand their care, prepare questions, practice self advocacy, and stay connected to appropriate healthcare and community resources.

Where MHAAT™ Fits

MHAAT™ is part of that community based maternal health village.

Through education, advocacy, research, navigation, and the MHAAT 360°™ Maternal Upstream Stabilization Framework, we work to strengthen maternal health knowledge, bodily awareness, self advocacy, and connection to care.

We do not replace clinical maternity care. We help strengthen the community based support surrounding mothers.

Why This Matters in November

Public policy can influence access to doulas, midwives, community based maternal health programs, insurance coverage, reimbursement, and care close to home.

Ask:

What will you do to strengthen access to doulas, midwives, and community based maternal health organizations and ensure they are meaningfully connected to our healthcare systems?

⚖️ MHAAT™ Takeaway

It takes a village to support a mother, and the village must be connected.

Clinical care matters.
Community care matters.
Maternal voice matters.

Grounded in the Body. Guided by the Mother.
Centered in Dignity. Driven by Justice.

Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Partnering With Doulas in Clinical Settings.” Committee Statement, August 2026.

09/27/2026

⚖️ Sacred Sunday Moments

Healthy Moms. Healthy Families. Healthy Indiana.

Substance-Use Treatment & Overdose Prevention

Treatment saves lives. Connection to care can save mothers’ lives.

Indiana’s maternal health data demand our attention.

From 2018–2022:

Overdose was the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death every year. MMRC-2024-Annual-Report-2018-20…
30% of pregnancy-associated deaths were due to overdose—102 mothers lost. MMRC-2024-Annual-Report-2018-20…
Substance use contributed to 46% of pregnancy-associated deaths reviewed. MMRC-2024-Annual-Report-2018-20…
59% of pregnancy-associated deaths occurred 43 days to one year after pregnancy. MMRC-2024-Annual-Report-2018-20…
Treatment, Not Judgment

A mother experiencing substance use disorder needs care—not shame, punishment, or isolation.

Preventing overdose means ensuring mothers can access treatment, naloxone, mental-health care, recovery support, and continued healthcare throughout pregnancy and the postpartum year. Indiana’s MMRC specifically recommends expanding these supports. MMRC-2024-Annual-Report-2018-20…

⚖️ Culture Matters

Stigma can become another barrier to care. Every mother deserves to be heard, treated with dignity, and connected to support.

Why This Matters in November

Public policy helps determine whether these services are available and accessible.

Ask: What will you do to ensure pregnant and postpartum mothers have access to treatment and continuous support throughout the first year after pregnancy?

⚖️ MHAAT™ Takeaway

Overdose among pregnant and postpartum mothers is a maternal-health emergency.

Treatment saves lives. Access saves lives. Connection to care saves lives.

Grounded in the Body. Guided by the Mother.
Centered in Dignity. Driven by Justice.

Source: Indiana Department of Health, Indiana Maternal Mortality Review Committee, 2024 Annual Report: 2018–2022

09/22/2026

⚖️ Teach & Transform Tuesday

MHAAT 360°™ Framework | Movement

❤️ Cardiovascular Support: Movement Matters

During pregnancy, your heart pumps more blood to support your growing baby and the changes happening in your body.

For most mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies, regular movement supports heart health, circulation, healthy blood pressure, mood, sleep, and overall well-being.

❤️ Every Step Matters

Walking, swimming, dancing, and other safe activities can help keep your body moving.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week during pregnancy and postpartum for mothers without medical reasons to limit exercise.

Start slowly, increase gradually, and talk with your healthcare provider about what is safe for you, especially if you have health conditions or pregnancy complications.

⚠️ Know When to Stop

Stop exercising and seek medical advice if you experience chest pain, dizziness, unusual shortness of breath, severe headache, vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, painful contractions, calf pain or swelling, or muscle weakness affecting balance.

Movement supports your health but does not replace prenatal or postpartum care, blood pressure monitoring, or prescribed treatment.

⚖️ MHAAT™ Takeaway

Movement supports your heart. Your heart supports your body. Together, they support a healthier pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

Every step matters. Find movement that works for you and make it part of your routine.

Move your body. Support your heart. Protect your health.

Grounded in the Body. Guided by the Mother.

Centered in Dignity. Driven by Justice.

09/21/2026

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