Kansas Birth Justice Society

04/16/2026

It's Black Maternal Health Week and we're still actively engaged in the fight for real equity, justice, and health for Black families.

Black women and Black birthing people in Kansas continue to face unacceptable disparities in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes. That is not by chance. It is the result of medical, legal,, and social support systems that have been built to advantage some while disadvantaging others- on purpose. These same systems cause harm while simultaneously failing to invest in solutions that our own communities recognize and respond to.

Here at KBJS, we are not looking for quick band-aids, shallow statements, or temporary attention. We are fighting for real solutions: sustained investment, community-rooted care, stronger systems of support, and policies that materially change outcomes for Black families.

So this week, we are not offering empty celebration. We are naming the truth. Black maternal health is a matter of justice, and justice requires more than awareness. It requires action, accountability, and the courage to build something better.
KBJS remains committed to that work every day. Learn more about how you can build alongside us at ksbirthjusticesociety.org

03/18/2026

We join communities across Kansas in honoring the life and legacy of Melody McCray-Miller.

A lifelong public servant, educator, and advocate, Melody dedicated her life to uplifting others and advancing justice.

She was also a founding leader and guiding voice within Kansas Birth Justice Society—helping shape the work we do today to advance birth justice and equity across our state.

We are grateful for her life, her leadership, and the wisdom she shared with us.

Her legacy continues through this work.

🖤

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff on Saturday in honor of trailblazing Wichita leader Melody McCray-Miller.

“Melody McCray-Miller was revered by the Wichita community and dedicated her life to uplifting others as a teacher, professor, state representative, and county commissioner,” Gov. Kelly said. “My sincere condolences go out to her loved ones and the community during this difficult time.”

03/13/2026

Melody McCray-Miller was a member of the founding board of Kansas Birth Justice Society and played a crucial role in shaping our work from the very beginning. Her insight, steady guidance, and sharp policy lens helped ground our work in community power and real change.

This video was filmed as part of our soon-to-be-released Birth Justice Blueprint that Melody co-authored—a vision for how we can shape Kansas to be a place that is more fair and equitable; where pregnant people, babies, and families can all be healthy and thrive.

Last weekend, during her celebration of life, a portion of this video was shared. With the blessing of her family, we’re sharing her message here, too.

Melody now joins the ancestors, but her wisdom stays with us.

Please take a few minutes to listen—and pass it on.

03/03/2026

In 2023-2024, we had the honor of leading the successful push for equitable, inclusive Medicaid doula reimbursement. And over the past year, our focus has been on what comes next: training doulas across Kansas so more people who need doula care can actually access it. (We’ve got a couple hundred doulas in the training pipeline right now—yes, really.)

And we love seeing Wichita’s now-established doulas—especially the ones who came up through our early recruiting and training—out here doing the dang thing. Shaunita Haynesherway of Sensual Selections And Spa is one of them, and we couldn’t be prouder. Watching her serve families with excellence is exactly why we do this.

We did what we said we were going to do. And we’re not done!

Black mothers are three times more likely to die during pregnancy. Advocates say doulas are closing that gap.

02/23/2026

Today, Kansas Birth Justice Society is mourning the loss of Melody McCray Miller.

Melody was not only a founding board member — she was deeply involved in building the foundation of KBJS. She helped shape our values, our direction, and our standards. She believed in justice with her whole chest, and she backed that belief up with real work, real time, and real leadership.

Right now, this loss feels especially sharp because we were in the midst of completing a major policy paper with Melody’s guidance — a paper that lays out what Kansas must do next: the highest priorities for change to realize health equity and health justice for pregnant and birthing people and babies. Melody helped push our thinking further. She helped sharpen the truth. She helped us hold the line on what actually matters.

We deeply mourn her death. 😭💔🙏🏽 And we will honor her by finishing what we were building with her and releasing the policy paper soon, in the spirit it was written: clear-eyed, grounded, and committed to justice.

We’re holding Melody’s loved ones close, and we ask our community to do the same.

Rest in power, Melody. Thank you for helping build KBJS — and for helping chart what comes next. 💛🕊️

01/08/2026

We’re proud to share this opportunity from our friends at the Kansas Birth Equity Network (KBEN).

KBEN is recruiting participants for a doula-led, virtual group prenatal care program, open to anyone in Kansas — and Sapphire Garcia, founder and Executive Director of Kansas Birth Justice Society, will be the doula leading the online group prenatal support sessions.

You may qualify if you are:
• 13 weeks pregnant or less, and
• at risk for high blood pressure

KBEN is providing:
• 7 virtual group sessions
• personalized doula care
• Bluetooth blood pressure monitor
• Apple Watch to track activity, sleep, and wellness

To apply, scan the QR code on the flyer.
Questions? Email [email protected].

Please share with someone who could benefit — early, consistent support matters.

Did you know that KBEN is recruiting for a virtual, doula-led group prenatal care program?

Benefits:
-Virtual Doula Care
-Peer Support
-FREE Apple Watch

To participate, please compete this survey and you will receive more information if you are eligible for the program! Survey Link: https://redcap.kumc.edu/surveys/?s=XRKF8K7DTT8WPXNY

10/21/2025

Join us today for a community meal that gives back! Jason’s Deli will be helping to support Liberation Place. When you place your order, show the cashier the flyer posted in this event.
25% of your meal cost will go directly to supporting Liberation Place’s work supplying diapers, baby clothes, formula, and other essentials to families in need.
Here’s how you can help:
1. Go to Jason’s Deli at the date & time of the fundraiser.
2. Show the fundraiser flyer when placing your order (in-store only) so the donation is credited.
3. Eat good food, connect with community, and help us care for little ones in need.
Your meal will do more than fill your belly — it’ll help meet the needs of babies and families. Thank you for your support! 💛
’sDeliFundraiser See less

10/20/2025

Kansas Birth Justice Society is part of the Dillons Food Stores Community Rewards Program! When you link your Shopper's Card/ALT ID to your online Dillons account and select Kansas Birth Justice Society as your Community Rewards Organization you fundraise for us when you shop!
Visit www.dillons.com/communityrewards to sign up today

10/10/2025

Hi friends! 🌻 This is Kansas Birth Justice Society — we’re curious, do we have any Rotary Club members among our followers? If so, please reach out to us or DM us as soon as possible!

09/08/2025

This past weekend, Kansas Birth Justice Society had the honor of training a new cohort of Indigenous doulas through our Catalyst Doula Training, in support of the newly formed Indigenous Birthworkers Collective of Kansas, led by Stephanne Rupnicki.

Our Catalyst curriculum — developed by our Executive Director, Sapphire Garcia — is designed to transform maternal and infant health outcomes through a unique blend of biodynamics, advocacy, evidence-based information, and culturally centered care.

Because of KBJS’s leadership in successfully shaping and securing Kansas Medicaid’s doula reimbursement policy, the demand for skilled, community-based doulas has never been greater. To meet that need, Sapphire is training 200 doulas across Kansas in 2025 — building the workforce that families need now that access is finally possible.

These Indigenous doulas are taking the Catalyst foundation and weaving it with their own traditions, working collectively to revive cultural heritage around birth and strengthen wellness for Indigenous birthing people and babies.

This is history being made in Kansas. For too long, Indigenous families have lacked access to culturally rooted birth support. By training this cohort, KBJS is proud to support the formation of the brand-new Indigenous Birthworkers Collective of Kansas, led by Stephanne Rupnicki. These doulas will take their knowledge back to their own communities and work together through the Collective to revive cultural traditions around birth and build a future where Indigenous families are welcomed into parenthood with dignity, belonging, and the wisdom of their people.

At KBJS, we believe birth justice means not only access to care, but care that honors identity, heritage, and community. We are proud to celebrate these doulas as trailblazers — and to stand in solidarity with them and their communities as they lead this vital work forward.

09/08/2025

🌟 We are honored that Kansas Birth Justice Society has been named a 2025 Diversity & Inclusion Awards Honoree by the Wichita Business Journal! 🌟

For us, diversity and equity aren’t boxes to check — they are at the heart of birth justice. Birth justice means recognizing that racism, poverty, gender oppression, and immigration status all shape how people experience pregnancy, birth, and parenting. It means ensuring that Black, Brown, Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and low-income families are not left behind, but centered in the work of creating safe, dignified, and thriving communities.

Every doula we train, every family we serve, and every policy we fight for is rooted in the belief that reproductive health and reproductive autonomy are human rights — and that justice requires action.

We share this recognition with our staff, doulas, volunteers, and community who make this vision real every day. 💛