Massachusetts Mind the Gap Steering Committee

Danielle Beasley, Founder, Daughters of Yahweh Community Outreach

Jessie Colbert, Executive Director, Mass. PPD Fund

Stephanie Crawford, M.Ed, Founder, Propa City Community Outreach, Owner, Belle Joie Doula & Family Services 

Manoucheka Dasse, Propa City Community Outreach Peer Support Mentor

Amanda Hollis Garaffo, Esq.

Ashley C. Healy, Esq.,

Jessica Paulino, The EMA Project

Dr. Jo-Anna L. Rorie, CNM, PhD, Associate Professor, Boston University School of Medicine, OB GYN Foundation

Chloe Schwartz, MPH, Director, Maternal Infant Health, March of Dimes Boston Market

The Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition is a large, statewide group of health care and community-based organizations, other nonprofits, mental health and maternity care providers, survivors of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) and other advocates working to improve state policies impacting perinatal* mental health (PMH).

*During pregnancy and up to one year or more after birth.

Massachusetts Mind the Gap organized in 2022 with the support of Postpartum Support International’s Mind the Gap State Policy Series. We successfully passed the Moms Matter Act (MMA) in 2024 as part of the Commonwealth’s groundbreaking omnibus maternal health bill. The MMA established a state grant program investing in community-based programs supporting perinatal people, particularly in Black and Brown and other communities impacted by maternal health and mental health disparities. We are now proud to be a standing coalition focused on a range of issues impacting PMH, from birth justice, to diaper need, to adequate mental health services.

For more information, including joining our listserv for meeting registration and updates, please contact Jessie Colbert at jcolbert@massppdfund.org

2025-2026 priorities and action alerts coming soon!