On Monday, April 20th, bloggers and websites across the country will be advocating for the passage of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act by writing, blogging and sending alerts asking their visitors to:
Call your Senator! to express your support for S324
Add your Name! to the state by state constituent petition, a list that will be presented to U.S. Senators the week of Mothers Day!
The list of national endorsers - which has grown to become one of the most extensive American bipartisan endorsements ever assembled – also includes major family foundations formed by those who have lost loved ones to the ravages of untreated or improperly treated birth or postpartum mood disorders. Devastated families who turned their agony into advocacy… by raising awareness and helping to prevent these tragedies from happening to others. They know that passage of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act is the next step needed to meet this goal!
Here are just a few:
The Melanie Blocker Stokes Foundation – was established by Chicago resident Carol Blocker, mother of Melanie Blocker Stokes. As she raises her deceased daughter’s precious child, Sommer Skye, Carol has been among the most ardent supporters of the legislation named for the beautiful, talented Melanie. Carol has campaigned tirelessly for over a decade to pass the bill she knows may spare other families the experience of a similar tragedy. She is greatly distressed by the opposition’s outrageous, insensitive misuse of Melanie’s name to discourage support for the bill she has fought for since her daughter’s tragic death. Visit the foundation’s website to learn about Melanie’s life and her continuing advocacy efforts in support of this bill.
The Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Foundation – Based in Chicago and created by Jennifer’s mother, Joan Mudd says “In 2001 my dear daughter, Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling lost her battle with postpartum depression. My husband and I knew that we had to do something to make it less likely that others would suffer Jennifer’s fate. Working with Evanston Northwestern Hospital, we established the Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Postpartum Depression Program at the hospital, offering prenatal and postnatal screenings, education programs for health care professionals and a 24-hour crisis line for new mothers” Joan’s foundation also sponsors an annual conference each year in Chicago, bringing our nation’s top researchers, advocates and survivors together to discuss latest advances and collaborative advocacy. Joan and her family are ardent supporters of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act. You can visit the foundation website here:
Jenny’s Light - On December 19, 2007, Jennifer and Graham Gibbs Bankston tragically passed away. Jenny suffered silently with postpartum depression but her symptoms could have been detected and treated. This Minnesotta based foundation was created by her family to be a source of information, hope and inspiration. “We strive to stop this type of tragedy from happening to others. The mission of Jenny’s Light is to improve and save lives by increasing awareness of all perinatal mood disorders including postpartum depression” Visit Jenny’s Light here. Jenny’s Light supports the passage of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act.
The Tatia Oden French Memorial Foundation, a California based foundation, was founded by Maddy Oden after the preventable loss of her daughter and grandchild’s life. The Foundation is devoted to empowering women, specifically in the area of childbirth and pregnancy. “We are dedicated to saving the lives of those giving life to others” says Maddy. The foundation has added its name to the list of those supporting The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act. You can visit the foundation by clicking here
Access the entire list of national endorsers of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act and the state by state listings by clicking here.
Please join us on Monday, April 20th, by calling your U.S. Senator and requesting his support of The Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act. And add your name to the constituent petition which will be presented to every U.S. Senator the week of Mothers Day.