03/13/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/13/2026 14:49
March 13, 2026- 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.
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.
Speakers Include:
Dr. Maria Montoro Edwards - CEO, Maternal & Family Health Services
Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen - PA Department of Health
Dr. Marc Rabin, OB/GYN Commonwealth Health/Medical Director, Maternal and Family Health Services
Joy Golden, local mother and Maternal & Family Health Services client