State Policy Fellows Program (2020–2025)
In 2020, the Policy Center launched the State Policy Fellows Program with financial investment from Sage Therapeutics.
- The program started with training and providing one-on-one assistance to leaders from state-based nonprofit organizations in legislative and regulatory advocacy, evidence-based maternal mental health policy, and action plan development.
- In 2021, this program expanded, and a separate track for government agencies was developed. Recognizing that payment is where the rubber meets the road in health policy, this program track was modified in 2023 to require at least of two of the applicants to include a leader from the state’s Medicaid agency.
In 2026, the Policy Center paused the launch of new annual fellows cohorts, pivoting to launch new state-based learning collaboratives for Rural Health Transformation and to support state Perinatal Quality Collaboratives.
Reach
53 government leaders 26 states
81 nonprofit leaders in 33 states
Actions
The fellows initiated action plans which included:
- Declaring May Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month
- Forming state-sanctioned MMH task forces
- Mandating screening
- State Medicaid agencies reimbursing obstetricians for screening
- Requiring health plans to report their contracted obstetricians’ screening and follow-up rates (via HEDIS)
Learn more about the focus of each tract and who participated here:
Hear From Participants
“The fellows program gave us ideas we could adapt for California’s unique system.” — California Department of Public Health
“The program provided the capacity and guidance needed to move legislation forward and center equity.” — Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Georgia & PSI Georgia
“The fellows program created space to step back, learn, and think strategically.” — Indiana Department of Health“
The fellows program helped us leverage Medicaid policy to move maternal mental health from awareness to action across the system.” — Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services