Episode 65: Black Maternal Health Advocacy w/ Mica Whitfield

In celebration of Black Maternal Health Week, I sit down with the incredible, Mica Whitfield. We chatted the week before the Black Maternal Summit where she was presented with the Advocate of the Year award. Mica Whitfield is a nonprofit leader and women’s advocate with more than a decade of experience in program development and advocacy. She is fiercely passionate about improving the quality of life for women across the State of Georgia. In her previous position, she served as the Director of Programs for Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHBGA). There she managed several programs, grants, advocacy initiatives, and policy-level workgroups for the organization. In addition, she served as the Vice President and Advocacy Chair for Postpartum Support International- Georgia Chapter. In this role, she coordinated advocacy efforts to enshrine Maternal Mental Health Day in the Georgia Code, and secured 1.05 million in appropriations to establish the State’s first Maternal Mental Health Telepsychiatry Line.

During our chat, Mica and I talk about black maternal mental health and the disparities in the state of Georgia. She talks about her own birthing experiences with both of her children and how maternal health became her calling. She also shares tips on how those in the community who want to become involved on a legislative level can and how someone can be an advocate for an incredible cause.