Advocacy Work
Current policies surrounding post-adoption support for birth mothers often fall short of meeting the diverse and complex needs of these courageous women. While some resources exist, they are often fragmented and insufficient, leaving many birth mothers without the vital assistance they require.
Three Primary Policies of Birthmom Buddies
Mental Health Services for Birth Mothers: Lifelong access to mental health care including counseling, psychiatric services, and support groups.
Comprehensive Lifelong Mental Health Services for Birth Mothers: Mental Health Support for Birth Mothers ensures all birth mothers who have placed a child for adoption receive lifelong access to comprehensive mental health services, including counseling, psychiatric care, support groups, crisis intervention, and telehealth services.
- Eligibility: All birth mothers who have placed a child for adoption are eligible for lifelong mental health services, irrespective of the child's age at adoption or the adoption circumstances.
- Services Provided: Includes individual, group, and family counseling, psychiatric services, medication management, support groups, crisis intervention services, 24/7 mental health hotlines, and telehealth services for remote access.
Effective Administration by HHS: Ensuring seamless access and sustained funding for birth mother mental health services.
Effective Implementation and Administration of Birth Mother Mental Health Support: Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Mental Health Support for Birth Mothers Act secures annual funding from Congress, with streamlined processes and partnerships to ensure birth mothers access the mental health services they need.
- Administration: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for implementing and administering the services, ensuring streamlined eligibility verification and access through partnerships with adoption agencies and healthcare providers.
- Funding: Congress will appropriate necessary funds annually to sustain the program. HHS may also use existing resources and apply for additional grants. Annual reviews will ensure the program's effectiveness and sustainability.
Holistic Post-Birth Support: Immediate and long-term aid encompassing medical, emotional, social, and financial support for birth mothers.
Comprehensive Post-Birth Support for Birth Mothers: The Birth Mom Plan provides immediate and long-term support, including medical care, counseling, financial aid, job placement, and housing assistance, ensuring holistic recovery and stability for birth mothers post-adoption.
- Immediate Support: Includes medical care, initial and regular follow-up counseling sessions, support groups, and peer counseling within the first year post-birth.
- Long-term Support: Continuous social, financial, and legal assistance, ensuring birth mothers' recovery and stability. Birth mothers will receive job placement services, financial counseling, housing support, and education on available resources.
- Financial Support: Eligibility for Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for those unable to work due to mental health conditions related to adoption.
Our Birth Mother Advocacy Work
At Birthmom Buddies, we recognize the gaps in these existing policies and are committed to driving meaningful change in the landscape of post-adoption support for birth mothers.
We aim to challenge existing norms and advocate for policies that ensure birth mothers receive the holistic care and resources they deserve. Here are some things we’re currently working on:
Lifelong Mental Health Services for Birth Mothers:
- Comprehensive mental health services for women who have placed their children for adoption.
- Services include counseling, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, support groups, crisis intervention, mental health hotlines, and telehealth services.
Birth Mom Plan:
- Holistic support for birth mothers immediately following the birth and adoption of their child.
- Includes post-birth medical care, immediate and ongoing mental health support, social support services (housing assistance, job placement, financial counseling, legal assistance), financial support (access to financial assistance, temporary disability insurance), and education and awareness programs.
Long-Term Follow-Up and Support:
- A system for long-term follow-up with birth mothers to ensure their ongoing mental health needs are met.
- Includes regular check-ins, assessments, a dedicated case manager for each birth mother, and long-term support and coordination of care and services.
