By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, representing the 14th District of Illinois, is moving forward an ambitious mission to improve maternal health outcomes.
As founder and a board member of the new organization, Lifting Up All Families (LAUF), Underwood seeks to help families across the country, especially those too often overlooked by traditional systems of care.
“LUAF’s goal is simple but urgent,” says Congresswoman Underwood. “We want every mother and every family to have the care, dignity and support they deserve, no matter their race, income or ZIP code.”
The organization’s vision, according to Underwood, is grounded in the understanding that maternal health does not exist in a vacuum. Issues like housing insecurity, nutrition, mental health access and economic stability are all deeply intertwined with maternal outcomes.
At a recent LUAF roundtable, health care professionals, including Nichole Wardlaw, a certified nurse midwife with two decades of experience serving military families, discussed the pressing challenges faced by mothers, particularly Black women veterans.
“While they’re serving our country, we’re not really serving them,” said Wardlaw. “They’re isolated, away from family, and lack the support system they’d have back home. And a lot of them struggle with mental health. We assume they’re fine because they’re in the military, but they’re not always getting what they need.”
The Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance says, “if untreated, symptoms of Maternal Mental Health (MMH) conditions can last up to three years. Forty percent develop symptoms following childbirth, 33 percent develop symptoms during pregnancy and 27 percent enter pregnancy with anxiety or depression.”
Wardlaw’s work has centered on pairing pregnant veterans with doulas, providing both prenatal and postpartum support, and ensuring someone shows up when families feel alone in the process. For her, patient-centered care means more than clinical checklists. It means listening.
“You gain trust by centering clients in their care,” she said. “You give them information, help them make informed decisions, and treat them as the experts of their own bodies.”
One of LUAF’s foundational policy anchors is the Protecting Moms Who Served Act. The act expands VA maternity care coordination. Underwood noted that the stories shared by mothers at the launch affirmed just how critical that investment is.
As a nurse and policymaker, Underwood said her commitment is both personal and professional.
“I’ve seen families at their most vulnerable. I’ve seen how systemic inequities cut lives short,” she said. “But I’ve also seen how the right solutions, rooted in equity and community voices, can save lives.”
LUAF is designed to be actionable, linking on-the-ground realities with legislative momentum. The organization plans to continue listening to mothers, aligning with proven policy tools and fostering collaboration among lawmakers, care providers and community leaders.
“I want a future where a woman’s race, income or veteran status no longer determines whether she survives pregnancy or childbirth,” Underwood said. “If we get this right, we won’t just change statistics, we’ll change lives for generations.”