Scranton, PA – All pregnant women deserve a safe and healthy pregnancy. Since taking office in January 2023, the Shapiro Administration has invested $12.3 million in maternal and child health initiatives that are delivering real results, like increased postpartum depression screenings, improved access to care for women with hypertension, and new grants specifically designed to improve the health of Pennsylvania mothers and babies, among other improvements.
Today, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen visited Maternal & Family Health Services, Inc. in Scranton to see some of those results in action.
“Since his first year in office, Governor Josh Shapiro made improving health outcomes for mothers and babies a priority,” said Secretary Bogen. “Our investments are greatly improving Pennsylvania mothers’ access to quality medical and behavioral health care. The Governor’s ongoing support for maternal and child health is reflected in his 2026-27 budget proposal of an additional $7.5 million to continue and to expand this important work to make pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum care safer for the more than 125,000 births each year in Pennsylvania.”
Prior to Governor Shapiro taking office, there was no specific line item in the state budget for maternal health. During his first year in office, the Governor proposed and won legislative approval for the historic, first-time investment of $2.3 million in maternal health; increasing the investment over the past three years.
“Everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable, equitable health care, and that is especially true of pregnant women and newborns. Receiving timely, comprehensive, and trusted prenatal and postnatal care makes a significant positive difference in the overall health of parents and their baby, which is why Governor Shapiro's proposed budget investments are so important,” said Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “We know we must do more to foster healthy families and communities in Pennsylvania, and the Shapiro Administration is committed to being a partner to support growing families no matter where people live in the Commonwealth."
The Regional Maternal Health Coalition grants program, established with $1.2 million from the Shapiro Administration’s investment in maternal health, made it possible for nearly 1,100 Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clients to be screened for hypertension in 2025. One hundred mothers with elevated blood pressure were identified and referred for care.
“Investing in maternal health is an investment in the strength of our communities,” said Dr. Maria Montoro Edwards, President and CEO of Maternal and Family Health Services. “When the Shapiro Administration prioritizes programs that support mothers before, during, and after pregnancy, it ensures families have access to the care and resources they need to thrive. These investments lead to healthier pregnancies, stronger babies, and better long-term outcomes for families across Pennsylvania, and we are grateful for that commitment.”
Last year, the Shapiro Administration launched Perinatal TiPS, which increased access to perinatal psychiatry and addiction medicine specialists via over-the-phone, provider-to-provider consultation, leading to patient referrals and connections to resources.
“The support you’ve given me and my baby is immeasurable,” said Joy Golden, local mother and Maternal & Family Health Services client. “I am one of those statistics. I’m the statistic that the baby is not supposed to be as healthy; I’m not supposed to be as healthy. I probably shouldn’t even be here right now if it weren’t for your funding and all the help Maternal Family offered. The fact that they offered behavioral health not just during pregnancy, but after, was huge.”
Other initiatives supported through three years of state maternal health funding include:
- Diversifying Doulas Initiative: Provides doula trainings, specifically to people of color, and doula services to individuals living in Lancaster, Dauphin, and York counties, with priority given to populations disproportionally affected by maternal mortality and morbidity.
- Statewide Healthy Start Maternal Behavioral Health Initiative: Expands mental and behavioral health services and programs at all six Pennsylvania Healthy Start sites, which led to increased postpartum depression screenings and connected mothers with needed mental health services.
- Perinatal and Postpartum Education Campaign: This multi-media education campaign, which ran from July 2025 through October 2025, brought awareness of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) and encouraged pregnant women and new mothers to seek support.
- Birth Justice Philadelphia: This initiative funded $30,000 mini-grants to 10 community-based organizations working with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to improve maternal health outcomes in Philadelphia.
In addition to funding the previously mentioned initiatives, a portion of the $7.5 million in the Governor’s proposed 2026-2027 budget will help counties prevent child deaths.
Watch Governor Shapiro’s full budget address to a joint session of the House and Senate and see the Governor’s full remarks as prepared for delivery here.
Read an overview of Governor Shapiro’s 2026-2027 budget proposal or explore the full Budget in Brief here.
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Editor’s Note: Video downloads and photos from the news conference at Maternal & Family Health Services, Inc. are available on PAcast.