Maternal & Child Health… a Dialogue with Rep. Powers Hannley (video)

What is the state of maternal and child health in the state of Arizona? Well, it certainly could be better.

Arizona ranks in the 40s (out of 50 states) in many areas related to the health of Moms and their babies.

Too many Moms and babies are dying preventable deaths after childbirth. Too many babies are born prematurely, with low birth weight or with birth defects. Not surprisingly, access to first trimester prenatal care has decreased, while beginning prenatal care late or not having prenatal care has increased.

Although the Arizona Department of Health Services recently received a CDC grant to study maternal mortality, there is more work to be done to improve the lives of Moms and babies.

Arizona should be doing more to prevent premature and low brithweight babies, increase access to prenatal and post-partum care for women, and increase post secondary educational opportunities (particularly for young girls).

I will talk about the State of Maternal and Child Health in Arizona and lead a discussion about challenges and solutions at the Salt of the Earth Labor College on Saturday, September 21, 2019, beginning at 2 p.m. (Facebook event here. Blog for Arizona event here.) The College is located at 1902 E. Irene Vista, Tucson.

Democrats in the Arizona Legislature are working on bills to address the health and wellbeing of families. Please bring your personal stories about pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum care in Arizona and your ideas for improving care or outcomes. The plan is to have a discussion after the talk.

Related Articles

HEALTH OF BABIES IN THE U.S. CONTINUES TO WORSEN MARCH OF DIMES REPORT CARD SHOWS

Maternal & Child Health: a Public Health Model for Social Justice (video) (The September 21 talk is an updated version of this talk.)

In #AZ, Maternal & Child Health Is in Crisis (video)

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This entry was posted on September 20, 2019 by Pamela J. Powers in Arizona, Arizona Legislature, Choice, Economics, education, healthcare, Pamela Powers Hannley, Video, War on Poverty, War on Women and tagged choice, contraception, maternal and child health, Pamela Powers Hannley, poverty, public education.

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broken sink

This is a broken sink in the Ladies’ Room at the Arizona State Building in downtown Tucson. One of the elevators also was broken. It’s time to fix Arizona government.

ERA house women

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Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

#RedForEd teachers and supporters in the Arizona House Gallery, 2018.

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Jobs with Justice marching with Occupy Tucson in support of postal workers.

Jobs with Justice marching with Occupy Tucson in support of postal workers.

Pamela Powers Hannley

Pamela Powers Hannley, Progressive Democrat for Arizona House, LD9

In the 1980s, the Tucson Weekly called Tucson the "Baked Apple".

In the 1980s, the Tucson Weekly called Tucson the “Baked Apple”.

We often hear that corporations need migrant workers because Americans “don’t want to do these jobs.” When I hear this statement, I picture farm workers picking vegetables. Recently, I toured two dairies and an animal feed packing plant in Pinal County. The photo above from the Zinke Dairy shows a giant cow milking carousel. Nine migrant workers milk 4000 cows three times a day at this dairy. Legislators watched the two men pictured here– working at a brisk pace– bend over and pick up, lift, and attach large electronic suction cups to the cows as they ride the carousel around the giant facility. This level of automation is the wave of the future for industrial jobs.

We often hear that corporations need migrant workers because Americans “don’t want to do these jobs.” When I hear this statement, I picture farm workers picking vegetables. Recently, I toured two dairies and an animal feed packing plant in Pinal County. The photo above from the Zinke Dairy shows a giant cow milking carousel. Nine migrant workers milk 4000 cows three times a day at this dairy. Legislators watched the two men pictured here– working at a brisk pace– bend over and pick up, lift, and attach large electronic suction cups to the cows as they ride the carousel around the giant facility. This level of automation is the wave of the future for industrial jobs.

Protesters hand deliver symbolic big check from corporate American to McCain.

Protesters hand deliver symbolic big check from corporate American to McCain.

John Nichols

John Nichols of ‘The Nation’ addressed progressives and unionists at a Tucson event.

poet's head

A giant poet’s head made up of stainless steel letters marks the stop near the UA Poetry Center.

Thanks for the poverty

Congressman Ron Barber and Pamela Powers Hannley at Cyclovia

Congressman Ron Barber and Pamela Powers Hannley at Cyclovia

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Desconocido (unknown)

Desconocido (unknown)

PDA members, including Advisory Board Chair Mimi Kennedy, protested food stamp cuts in front of Congressman Henry Waxman's office.

PDA members, including Advisory Board Chair Mimi Kennedy, protested food stamp cuts in front of Congressman Henry Waxman’s office.

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley with Red For Ed

Visiting with PALF chairman Fred Yamashita at the 2016 Labor Day Picnic.

Visiting with PALF chairman Fred Yamashita at the 2016 Labor Day Picnic.

Arizonans for New Economy co-directors Jim Hannley and Pamela Powers Hannley with UA Tech Park VP Bruce Wright.

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Jim Hannley

PDA Tucson Coordinator Jim Hannley speaks against both the crowd management ordinance and the urban camping ban at the City Council meeting.

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

Martin Luther King, Jr. march.

Martin Luther King, Jr. march.

tax-giveaways

Oberlin Rescuers

The Oberlin Rescuers outside of the Cuyahoga County Jail.

It was truly a honor to meet Nevada State Senator Patricia Spearman (center) in October and to confer with her regarding our efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Arizona. Spearman led the successful Nevada efforts to ratify the ERA in 2017. Here we are with activist and NOW leader Dainne Post after the ERA workshop at the We the People Conference in Phoenix. There are a lot of Arizona women who are ready to make history in 2018. Watch my blog here and my Facebook page here for ERA updates.

It was truly a honor to meet Nevada State Senator Patricia Spearman (center) in October and to confer with her regarding our efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Arizona. Spearman led the successful Nevada efforts to ratify the ERA in 2017. Here we are with activist and NOW leader Dainne Post after the ERA workshop at the We the People Conference in Phoenix. There are a lot of Arizona women who are ready to make history in 2018. Watch my blog here and my Facebook page here for ERA updates.

Occupy encampment in Armory Park-- before it was cleared out in the middle of the night by Tucson Police.

Occupy encampment in Armory Park– before it was cleared out in the middle of the night by Tucson Police.

Ironically, I posted this blog post on the anniversary of this election on June 19. 1970ish.

Ironically, I posted this blog post on the anniversary of this election on June 19. 1970ish.

Pamela Powers Hannley on Labor Day

Despite the sweltering heat, Jim and I had a great time at the Labor Day Picnic. We collected a lot of Clean Elections $5 donations and signatures. Here I am with LD9 chair Michael Dues.

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Local First Arizona

The Living Economy event was very informative; we had a great time hob-nobbing. My husband Jim is a small business owner and a member of Local First Arizona. I have owned two small businesses in the past– Powers/Queen Associates and Wind Dancer Design. We support Local First Arizona and buying/investing locally. We believe that supporting local small businesses with low-interest loans through a public/private partnership between a public bank and community banks and credit unions is the sustainable route to improving our local economy. Trickle down economics doesn’t work; it’s time for new ideas.

Pamela Powers Hannley

I have a background in research. Help me build Tucson’s tech industry and grow our own local businesses.

Tucson education rally

Governor Ducey had proposed increasing prison beds and funding, while cutting education. Protesters took issue with that short-sighted idea.

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We are the 99%.

We are the 99%.

Safe Park

Safe Park, downtown Tucson

Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales and I were interviewed by NBC at the Phoenix rally.

Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales and I were interviewed by NBC at the Phoenix rally.

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Phoenix anti-hate rally

Protesting migrant deaths in the Arizona desert.

Protesting migrant deaths in the Arizona desert.

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Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

Protesting anti-woman laws at the Arizona state capitol.

Protesting anti-woman laws at the Arizona state capitol.

There have been many lively debates in the Arizona House in 2018. This team of House Democrats fought for consumer protections and fought against risky financial deals in a “regulatory sandbox.” (Pictured are Reps. Mitzi Epstein, Kelli Butler, Athena Salman, Pamela Powers Hannley, Ken Clark and Isela Blanc.)

Protesting cuts to education

Protesting cuts to education

A homeless man sleeps in the shadow of corporate America.

A homeless man sleeps in the shadow of corporate America.

Giving the LD9 update at the June meeting. What a great crowd!

Giving the LD9 update at the June meeting. What a great crowd!

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley with members of the Tucson Chapter of NOW on opening day at the Arizona Legislature, 2018.

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Rev. Ron Phares and Pamela Powers Hannley

Jim and I were part of a contingent of Unitarian Universalists who came up from Tucson. Here I am with Rev. Ron Phares from the Mountain Vista UU Church in my district. (Jim is photobombing us.)

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@kyrstensinema Now it's time to vote to protect #ReproductiveRights and #VotingRights 3 months ago
RT @Rios_Rebecca: Turns out the Wave was Blue 💙 3 months ago
RT @albones520: I am humbled and honored for this opportunity to serve the people of Arizona! Thank you, Gov-Elect @katiehobbs for your tru… 3 months ago
RT @RaquelTeran: CONGRATULATIONS ATTORNEY GENERAL-ELECT MAYES! Every vote, every voice matters! 3 months ago
RT @ajflick: Since people have been asking me about the propositions this year, here's my take, which aligns with @P2Hannley, one of the sm… 4 months ago

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The Tucson Progressive: Pamela J. Powers

I stand on the side of Love. I believe in kindness to all creatures on Earth and the inherent self-worth of all individuals–not just people who agree with me or look like me.

Widespread economic and social injustice prompted me to become a candidate for the Arizona House, representing Legislative District 9 in the 2016 election.

My platform focused on economic reforms to grow Arizona’s economy, establish a state-based public bank, fix our infrastructure, fully fund public education, grow local small businesses and community banks, and put people back to work at good-paying jobs.

In the Arizona House, I was a strong voice for fiscal responsibility a moratorium on corporate tax breaks until the schools were fully funded, increased cash assistance to the poor, expansion of maternal healthcare benefits, equal rights, choice, unions, education at all levels and protecting our water supply.

After three terms, I retired from the Arizona Legislature in January 2023 but will continue to blog and produce my podcast “A View from the Left Side.”

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