This work is especially urgent in D.C., where rates of maternal and infant death are among the highest in the nation, and the rate of stillborn deliveries to black mothers and infant mortality is four times higher than that of white mothers.

Launched in January 2021, the Perinatal LAW Project:

• Provides legal services to pregnant and postpartum patients to address barriers to health and wellbeing.
• Trains healthcare teams to identify and refer patients with legal needs to the legal team.
• Provides opportunities for Georgetown students to engage in the MLP model.
• Evaluates its impact on patients, providers, and the health system to contribute to the MLP evidence base.

The Perinatal LAW Project is part of a larger MedStar Health initiative, Safe Babies Safe Moms, to address poor infant and maternal health outcomes through a collaborative effort between obstetric, pediatric, and mental health specialists. Safe Babies Safe Moms is supported through a philanthropic partnership between MedStar Health and the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. The Perinatal LAW Project also receives support from the D.C. Bar Foundation and Equal Justice Works.