Executive Director Kaufman advocates for mandatory reporting on maternal mortality in Georgia

The Georgia State Legislature's Urban Affairs Committee convened on June 24, 2025, to address critical issues surrounding maternal health and public reporting. A key focus of the meeting was the need for mandatory public reporting from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Currently, the committee is not required to disclose its findings to the public, which raises concerns about transparency and accountability in maternal health outcomes.

Alicia, a witness at the meeting, highlighted that while the committee must inform the governor of its findings, the public remains largely uninformed. This lack of mandated reporting means that information is only released at the committee's discretion, which can hinder efforts to improve maternal health policies and practices.

The discussion also featured testimony from Allison Kaufman, executive director of the Amplify Georgia Collaborative. Kaufman shared her personal experience with childbirth complications, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic changes to protect the lives of mothers, particularly among marginalized communities. Her story underscored the stark reality that many women, especially Black birthing individuals, face significant risks during pregnancy and childbirth in Georgia.

The committee's discussions reflect a growing recognition of the need for improved maternal health policies and greater transparency in reporting. As the meeting concluded, there was a hopeful sentiment that further actions could be taken to address these pressing issues in the near future. The committee's commitment to revisiting these topics after January signals a potential shift towards more proactive measures in safeguarding maternal health in Georgia.