No Mother Left Behind: 

A Vision for Compassionate Maternal Mental Health Care

Join us for an urgent and empowering community conversation as we recognize Maternal Mental Health Month.

We are honored to host Jamie Zahlaway Belsito, Founder of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA), for an in-depth update on the state of maternal health care from the local district to the federal level.

Despite being the most common complication of childbirth, maternal health conditions often go untreated, with significant disparities impacting our communities. This event will bridge the gap between policy and personal experience, offering a roadmap for a healthcare system that prioritizes every mother.

What You'll Learn:

• Federal Advocacy: Hear about the recent $100 million in federal funding secured for maternal mental health, including the expansion of the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA).
• State Impact: An update on Massachusetts' efforts to address maternal mortality and the 2.5X higher rate of severe maternal morbidity faced by Black non-Hispanic birthing people in the Commonwealth.
• District Resources: Discover the local support systems available for moms in our district, from screening initiatives to specialized treatment plans.
• Legislative Vision: Insights into current bills addressing racial disparities, substance use treatment, and the social drivers of health that affect new families.

The Current Landscape: Why This Matters

The statistics underscore the urgency of our mission:

• 1 in 5 mothers are impacted by maternal mental health conditions, affecting approximately 800,000 families in the U.S. annually.
• Untreated conditions cost the U.S. economy an estimated $14 billion each year due to lost productivity and adverse health outcomes.
• Racial Disparities: Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications that white women. Furthermore, Black and Latina mothers experience postpartum depression at twice the rate of their white counterparts but are significantly less likely to receive treatment.

Teresa's Italian Eatery

• 149 S  Main Street

  Middleton, MA  01949
  5:30PM - Doors Open

  
  

  Member rate: $20.00

  Non-member rate: $30.00

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About the Speaker

Jamie Zahlaway Belsito

For two decades, Jamie Zahlaway Belsito has been working at the state and national level to create legislative policies that positively affect public education, immigration, and women’s health. ​

The granddaughter of a Syrian immigrant and daughter of a hard working union floor layer, Jamie is a first generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Salem State College.  As a Trustee of her alma mater, and proud public school parent, she advocates for better public education funding.​

After the birth of both of her daughters, Jamie experienced what is commonly known as Postpartum Depression. Drawing upon her legislative background, she began a grassroots outreach to de-stigmatize the condition and educate women and their families.  In 2015, with the support of Ipswich's Birth to Three Family Center, North Shore Postpartum Depression HELP, for State Rep Brad Hill, and Senator's Lovely and Tarr, she created the first ever advocacy day at the Statehouse focused on maternal mental health and family support services. 

She has helped introduce and pass legislation that address maternal mortality, racial disparities in maternal health care, mental health support access and substance use treatment programs. Her work has changed how this state and this nation treats women’s health. ​

Jamie is the founder of the D.C. based Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance.  She is a board member of the Massachusetts chapter of the March of Dimes.  She has been working tirelessly with both Congress and the Massachusetts Statehouse on funding to address social, racial and cultural barriers for pregnant and new families, expansion of healthcare for pregnant and new parents, and funding for our public K-12 and higher education.​

She is committed to addressing the environment, economic recovery, public health and education.  She resides in Topsfield, MA with her husband and two young daughters.

About MMHLA

The Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA) is a national, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit leading efforts to improve maternal mental health across the United States. The organization advances its mission by advocating for policies that ensure universal, comprehensive, and compassionate mental health care during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. MMHLA also works to build strategic partnerships and provide trusted resources, with a vision of a healthcare system that prioritizes education, prevention, screening, and treatment for maternal mental health conditions.

MMHLA’s work focuses on supporting policymakers, healthcare providers in maternal and mental health, and individuals with lived experience who serve as advocates. Its approach is grounded in core values of commitment, integrity, respect, and transparency...driving collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning. Together, these principles position MMHLA as a key force in shaping a more equitable and effective maternal mental health landscape.