The Voice of Kay Harvey

Born , Toni Morrison was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

Today we thank her for breaking through barriers and showing us what is all about.

The current culture may think it’s “cool” to have enemies but it’s NOT,it’s work! Having enemies is not a FAN CLUB situation, it’s really like Mortal Kombat but with fervent prayer and extra fasting. When you ask to have your enemies “revealed” to you…get ready to WAR…PRAY…and WAIT!

Happy Monday
HM Kay Harvey

Have a joyous resurrection Sunday!

Preparing to head into an exciting learning experience with Womens Veterans Leadership Program Cohort 5!
STAND UP! You can always count on Kay to Lead the Way. I’m beyond honored and excited to bring my unique talent to this experience. As a lifelong learning, I’m eager to learn with my fellow women veterans from across the nation. I’ve been on my leadership journey for over 25 years and don’t plan on stopping. Much honor and respect to the community that raised me and the ones that saved me.
I’m at your service.

As a Military Spouse,I’ve had the privilege to live in several states. Each state becomes my home and I take a little piece of those places with me everywhere I go. As an Advocate, I’m able to support efforts that lead to better health outcomes in those states EVEN IF I’M NOT THERE! Working with so many great people to develop strategies that lend to the over all success of healthcare programs on a national level! That’s HOO-AH! I’m able to provide input from multiple lenses:
My lived experience as a birthing mom(Hawai’i)
Training as a labor and delivery doula(South Carolina)
Assisting with live births Nationally and Internationally
Academic Research background and education as a Health Educator/CHES(New York/Georgia)
Over a decade as an Policy Advocate

I’m so pleased to see the prioritization of funding for States to support access to care for Maternal Mental Health!

✦ MMH HOTLINE: Requested an additional $2M; received an aadditional $500K.

✦ GRANTS TO STATES: Requested an additional $5M; received an additional $1.5M.

Our voices matter and I’m glad to be a part helping others stand in their power!

Great news — last week, Congress has finally passed the FY22 budget began October 1, 2021)!
Here is what we had requested for funding for MMH programs, and what was passed:

✦ MMH HOTLINE: Requested an additional $2M; received an aadditional $500K.

✦ GRANTS TO STATES: Requested an additional $5M; received an additional $1.5M.
We are grateful to see this increase in funding and will continue as planned for our FY23 Appropriations requests during Advocacy Day — TOMORROW, Wednesday 16th so that new moms and families have the best start possible!

This will provide permanent funding for mental health resources like the 24/7 hotline and screening tools to make sure that no one suffers alone. When Policy and Purpose align..our communities WIN! Great work and I’m eager to see this National progress.

🎉Exciting news out of Congress yesterday!
Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (D-MA-5) introduced the , bicameral for and DisordersAct of 2022, legislation to reauthorize and expand a grant program to screen and treat maternal mental health and substance use disorders.
The reauthorization would create, improve, and/or enhance state programs for better screening and treatment. This federal program was originally created through Clark’s Bringing Out of the Shadows Act, which was signed into law in 2016.
“The and success of begins with our , and we are leaving too many without the care and support they need. Despite incredibly high rates of issues during , 75% of mothers never get treatment – that ends now,” Assistant Speaker Clark said. "Passing this legislation is an important step toward ensuring that no mom will suffer alone.”
MMHLA has been helping craft Into the Light for the last year, and we are grateful to Members of Congress for their leadership:

HOUSE LEADS
✦ Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA)
✦ Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
✦ Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-CA)
✦ Rep. Michael Burgess MD (R-TX)
✦ Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY)
✦ Rep. Young Kim (R-CA)

SENATE LEADS
✦ U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
✦ Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
✦ Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
✦ Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
We must do all we can to address so that new and their infants get off to the best start possible!
🔗 Read more: conta.cc/3tcVJyd

2022 Advocacy Priorities

📣 Join MMHLA, Shades Of Blue Project, and 2020 Mom as a Social Media Amplifier! In 2 weeks, we head to Capitol Hill (virtually, of course) to educate legislators about MMH conditions, and advocate for new legislation as well as continued funding for programs to address MMH.�
New to advocacy? Welcome! We’ll teach you everything you need to be an effective advocate.�
2022 Advocacy Priorities:��

➤ Grants to states: funding and legislation for state grants.��

➤ MMH Hotline: funding and legislation for a 24/7 dedicated MMH hotline.��

➤ Moms Matter Act | Momnibus bill dedicated to supporting MMH: funding to focus specifically on racial and ethnic minorities facing MMH conditions.��

➤ Federal task force: establishing a federal task force and national strategy to address MMH.�
Important Dates:��

✦ Advocacy Day Training — Monday, March 14 at 1-3pm ET
�〰️ Required training for all Advocacy Day participants, where we'll teach you everything you need to know to be a successful advocate.��

✦ Virtual MMH Advocacy Day — Wednesday, March 16 at 10:30am – 4pm ET�
〰️ Teams of advocates will meet virtually with Congressional members and/or their staffs throughout the day!�.
We hope you’ll join us!! 🔗 Register: ow.ly/ujjT50I7AuH
👉 Know others passionate about maternal health? Please SHARE!

Happy Women’s Day! I want to thank all the smart and amazing women that make a difference everyday! Keep doing ALL THE THINGS and encourage our next generation to take their space and show up big in the world! I’m watching you! #

I’m grateful for so many things! I am grateful for my beautiful family,good health and faithful friends. I’m an ordinary girl but I have been able to do and accomplish some extraordinary things. My faith in the Most High,my Ancestors,my husband,my son,my parents(RIL Daddy),my siblings,my extended family;both foreign and domestic and the ones that truly love me from the heart: I HONOR YOU TODAY! Thank you for being some many things to me on so many levels. Continue to be health,strong and enjoy the spirit of the day! Asè!

Could gratitude make your life better? Harvard Professors Laura Kubzansky and Jeff Huffman explain the research around gratitude’s physical and emotional benefits.

“Listening with cultural humility and finding ways to bridge the gaps between policy makers,clinicians and community health workers in order to best serve our clients/patients”
I’m so excited to be a part of this conference,this is my first time but it won’t be the last!
Just enjoyed an amazing experience with Fleda Jackson and Jabina Coleman...talk about inspiring!
In search of Calming Waters:Stress,Support and Resistance and Black Maternal Health

I’m proud to announce that I will be attending this conference and will also have the opportunity to be certified as a Perinatal Mental Health Trainer. This opportunity will provide the support and knowledge to expand Proverbial Health and Wellness’s Doula Program as well as support the ongoing mission of Child and Maternal Health.

“A home away from home”
I have made some amazing friends (some are more like family) due to my service in the Army! Shout out to my Women Veterans as we celebrated Women’s Veteran Day and to all my soldiers and families that I’ve had the privilege and honor to serve. HOOOOOOAAAHH!

Not only is June 14th Flag Day it is also the Army Birthday. At Clear Path we recognize and thank all Army Veterans and military members for their service and wish them a Happy Army Birthday!

Last week, illustrator Wade Forbes joined our Military Health Summit to visualize our panelists' conversations and insights. Check out Forbes' dynamic summary of the Connected Health & Internet of Things Panel, sponsored by OptumServe. Interested in watching the full panel? Find it here, along with additional sessions from our Military Health Summit: https://bit.ly/3awsKLT
Learn more about Wade Forbes at https://bit.ly/3sEV1pR

Systemic racism impacts access to quality healthcare, which puts Black women at higher risk for pregnancy complications.
Did you know,the leading causes of maternal death and complications in the U.S. are heart disease, infection, embolism and hemorrhage? All of these conditions are treatable and preventable but when you add implicit bias, income inequality, poverty and lack of access to quality healthcare, they can become life or death illnesses.

“Centering the Role of Doulas in Addressing Maternal Health Disparities” What an amazing theme!!

The target population for the Doula services at Proverbial Health and Wellness practice include: rural women,military families and mothers birthing without a partner.

As an Doula,Advocate,Policy Analyst and CHES I believe now more than ever we need to be THERE... to hold,sing,hum,cover and pray with our Mothers while welcoming babies into loving spaces by Doulas who will continue to nurture and fight for them. We are birth advocates and womb warriors!

TOMORROW is the Black Maternal Health Conference! Join the conversation about Black maternal health and the doulas who are working to end disparities for Black birthing people: https://bit.ly/3uFOmht

April is a beautiful Month and today is WORLD HEALTH DAY! As we continue to acknowledge and celebrate National Public Health Week,remember that taking care of the world,nature and the precious people of this world is important. Access to Health Care,Clean Water,Nutrition Food and Safety is a HUMAN RIGHT. What part will you play?

www.who.int

Advancing Racial Equity in Health Care and Education is imperative to better outcomes.
Each time I speak,take a class or conduct a listening session, I’m thinking of the next steps to improve my community of practice.

When I transitioned from a Military career to an academic career in Public Health, I had no idea I would become so passionate about this field.
As we celebrate National Public Health,remember all those serving in this space to make our world a better place!

After a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic, the Lowell Society of Bell Ringers are back in action, ringing the bells of Lowell House every Sunday at 1pm. The first day back in the tower for the restricted group with new COVID protocols was March 14, exactly 365 days after their last 2020 ring.

World Water Day 2021!
This element is life-giving,protective,nourishing and healing. Water is representative of the spirit,the womb and a place of refuge in both the spiritual and cultural sense.
When I think of all the beautiful bodies of majestic water near and dear to my heart,I am moved to a place of deep reverence. WATER IS SO IMPORTANT and I love being near to it. I pray for the cleanliness and safety all bodies of water and the lives of people that depend on them.
I honor this force today and all days by drinking water to nourish my body and contributing to the maintenance of natural bodies of water by practicing environmental safety to preserve it for future generations.
Pics: Huntington Beach,CA & Great Falls,VA

How to Embrace Change Using Emotional Intelligence If you’re resisting something new, think about why.

Stop the violence!

House votes to reauthorize landmark Violence Against Women Act The 1994 law, championed by then Sen. Joe Biden, aims to strengthen protections for women from domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

$13.48 billion for Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare programs through Fall 2023.

Community support is vital during this time. I’m so excited to announce that Proverbial Health and Wellness is launching a virtual Wellness Space for people to “drop in” or schedule a time to hear encouraging words! Stay tuned as more information concerning this awesome opportunity!

COVID-19 quarantine can lead to loneliness, especially for older people and people who live alone.
Stay connected with other people via telephone, social media or online communities to maintain your mental health