Every Mother Counts

EVERY MOTHER COUNTS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO MAKING PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH SAFE FOR EVERY MOTHER. THE ORGANIZATION INFORMS, ENGAGES, AND MOBILIZES NEW AUDIENCES TO TAKE ACTIONS AND RAISE FUNDS THAT SUPPORT MATERNAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AROUND THE WORLD.

GRANTMAKING WORK - IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION AWARDED 44 GRANTS TO 34 GRANTEES ACROSS 11 COUNTRIES (AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH, GUATEMALA, HAITI, INDIA, INDONESIA, KENYA, NEPAL, MEXICO, TANZANIA, AND THE UNITED STATES). THESE GRANTS, WHICH INCLUDE EMERGENCY GRANTS MADE IN RESPONSE TO HUMANITARIAN CRISES, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND NATURAL DISASTERS, SUPPORT WORK TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO QUALITY, RESPECTFUL, AND EQUITABLE MATERNITY CARE. THE ORGANIZATION INVESTS IN PARTNERS AND SOLUTIONS THAT EXPAND, STRENGTHEN, AND DIVERSIFY THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE; ADVANCE PROVEN, EVIDENCE-BASED MODELS OF CARE; FACILITATE ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND CARE IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES; PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUITY, AND BIRTH JUSTICE; AND PLACE MOTHERS AT THE CENTER.

RAISING AWARENESS & EDUCATION - THE ORGANIZATION BUILDS AND ELEVATES MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENESS THROUGH FILMS, PRESENTATIONS, PANELS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS. IN 2021, EXPERT STAFF MEMBERS REPRESENTED THE ORGANIZATION IN MORE THAN 50 PRESENTATIONS ON MATERNAL HEALTH, DISPARITIES, AND SOLUTIONS AND POLICIES TO ADVANCE BIRTH EQUITY, VIA IN-PERSON PANELS, TALKS, WEBINARS, SOCIAL MEDIA CONVERSATIONS, ARTICLES, OP-EDS, AND PODCAST RECORDINGS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO LAUNCHED SEVERAL VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO CENTER THE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF MOTHERS AND PREGNANT PEOPLE. FOR EXAMPLE, "HANG IN THERE MAMA" UTILIZED A DIGITAL PLATFORM TO ENABLE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO PUBLISH MESSAGES OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO MOTHERS, AND MAMATHON BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 500 PEOPLE FOR A VIRTUAL EVENT THAT FEATURED THE VOICES OF MATERNAL HEALTH HEROES.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & ADVOCACY - PART OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CORE MISSION IS TO MOBILIZE THE PUBLIC TO TAKE ACTION TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE FOR MOTHERS AND BIRTHING PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AND GLOBALLY. IN 2021, EMC LAUNCHED OUR FIRST GLOBAL FITNESS CHALLENGE IN HONOR OF MOTHER'S MONTH. THE EVENT HELPED COMMUNITIES CENTER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND RAISED AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AROUND THE COUNTRY. 866 COMMUNITY MEMBERS PLEDGED TO RUN, WALK, BIKE, AND HIKE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS IN HONOR OF THIS GOAL. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO USED THE "TAKE ACTION" PLATFORM ON ITS WEBSITE TO ENGAGE 3,996 COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TAKE 10,451 ACTIONS TO CALL FOR POLICY CHANGES TO IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES AND EXPERIENCES OF CARE IN THE UNITED STATES. "TAKE ACTION" CAMPAIGNS IN 2021 FOCUSED ON ADVANCING THE BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH MOMNIBUS, SUPPORTING THE MIDWIFERY MODEL OF CARE IN NEW YORK STATE, AND PASSING THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT.

TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVES - IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION ADDED A NEW AREA OF WORK TO FOSTER TRANSFORMATION OF MATERNITY CARE EXPERIENCES AND OUTCOMES FOR ALL, THROUGH CATALYTIC, MULTI-DIMENSIONAL, AND COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES THAT BRIDGE AND BUILD UPON EMC'S CORE WORK. IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THREE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN JUSTBIRTH SPACE, A VIRTUAL PERINATAL SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR BIRTHING FAMILIES THAT PUTS BIRTH JUSTICE PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE BY OFFERING VIRTUAL DOULA CARE, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT GROUPS THAT ARE INCLUSIVE AND SAFE FOR ALL IDENTITIES AND ADDRESSES GAPS IN THE CARE SYSTEM. THIS INNOVATIVE MODEL SHOWS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE THE WAY CARE IS DELIVERED DURING A PANDEMIC AND BEYOND WHILE ALSO BUILDING SOCIAL SUPPORT AND NETWORKS.