Resources

ISSUE BRIEF | Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization is a decision that is about access to essential healthcare, but also much more than that. It is, at its core, a decision — deeply rooted in sexism and racism — about the role women and people who can become pregnant play in our society. It is a decision about their futures and possibilities, their opportunities and dreams.(PDF)

FACT SHEET | The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) will ensure that employers provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees and that the workplace is an environment where needed accommodations are routinely expected and provided. (PDF)

American Rescue Plan Act ACA Premium Tax Credits (PTCs) are set to expire this year. At a time of rising costs for families, in particular for families of color and families with low incomes, a jump in the cost of health premiums could force millions to become uninsured. Congress must act to extend these affordability measures for the following six reasons.

In April 2022, Delaware became the 12th state, including D.C., to pass a paid family and medical leave program.

CHART | A detailed summary of existing family leave laws in California, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington, New York, D.C., Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon and Colorado

When the pandemic hit and schools and child care centers closed, nursing and adult care facilities became unsafe, and people began falling ill, each family was left to figure things out on its own. For the most part, the increased burden of care fell on women...

FACT SHEET | Women of color in the United States experience the nation's persistent and pervasive gender wage gap most severely. U.S. Census Bureau data reveal the size of that gap by race. (May 2022)

FACT SHEET | Overall, women in the United States are paid 82 cents for every dollar paid to men. When women lose income, their economic security and that of their families is diminished. (May 2022)

FACT SHEET | An analysis of the Gender Wage Gap by Congressional District (May 2022)

FACT SHEET | A look at the wage gap for Asian American and Pacific Islander women by ethnic subgroup, and what that gap means for them and their families. (May 2022)

For many pregnant people, community birth options offer better care, more positive experiences, improved health outcomes, and potential cost benefits. Given this track record and the increasing use of, and unmet need for, this model of care, decision-makers should act to make it widely available to lower-risk pregnant people who desire it. Above all, it is urgent to scale up access to this high-value model of care as an essential way to advance birth justice and mitigate the nation’s maternal health crisis.

The Roots Community Birth Center demonstrates the exceptional value of community-based and -led forms of the birth center model for communities disadvantaged by structural racism, intergenerational underinvestment, and other forms of discrimination.

Research shows that there are specific care models that can make a concrete difference in improving maternity care quality and producing better outcomes, including for birthing People of Color. One of these is the care provided in community birth settings, an increasingly used term for both birth centers and home birth care.

This report outlines the evidence that supports the unique value of community birth settings across different communities, the safety and effectiveness of care in these settings in improving maternal and infant outcomes, the interest of birthing people in use of birth centers and home birth care, and the current availability of, and access to, birth centers and home birth care in the United States.

Midwives have a distinctive, dignifying, person-centered, skilled model of care and an exemplary track record. They are an important part of the solution to the nation’s need for a higher-performing maternity care system and shortage of maternity care providers. However, there are barriers to enabling more childbearing people and families to experience benefits of midwifery care and to diversifying the profession of midwifery.

A summary of existing state and local laws that require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers.

Everyone needs time to access health care without threatening their economic stability. Paid sick days allow a person to recover from short-term illnesses, access preventive care, undergo a basic medical procedure, or care for a sick child or family member. Yet more than 26 million people — nearly one in four private sector workers1 — do not have a single paid sick day.

Women in the United States – in particular women who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) – face additional hurdles when trying to find and secure, safe, stable and affordable housing opportunities. This brief highlights how women are excluded from housing, the reasons why women find themselves in need of gender-conscious housing practices and policies, and what can be done to promote housing access and security.