SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is leading an initiative to expand the Alternative Health Care Delivery Demonstration Program to include birthing centers in more areas of the state with disparate health outcomes for Black mothers.

“On average, 75 women die every year while pregnant or within a year of pregnancy, -- a tragic statistic,” Van Pelt said. “It is even more tragic to know that four out of five pregnancy-related deaths could have been preventable. We must do everything we can to combat the issues of maternal mortality, which include increasing birthing centers.”

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CHICAGO – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is congratulating more than 300 Chicago-area high schoolers who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

“I commend these scholars for making such an achievement, which is even more impressive considering the obstacles brought along with the pandemic,” Van Pelt said. “This is also a testament to their families and educators, who have worked tremendously hard to support students during these unpredictable times.”

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SPRINGFIELD – After the second edition of the Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report revealed that Black women die at disparately high rates due to medical causes, State Senators Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) are calling for better outcomes for Black mothers.

“These patterns of disparity and negligence must be identified, so that we know how to eradicate them,” Van Pelt said. “Reports like these are necessary in order to impact legislation, which, thankfully, my colleagues and I have already been working to combat the issue of Black maternal mortality.”

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SPRINGFIELD – After nearly a year of advocating for health care reform, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is excited that the massive health care reform bill she supported is finally becoming law.

“The Black community has experienced so much premature death at the hands of systemic racism,” Van Pelt said. “While this legislation won’t solve everything with the sign of a pen, I am confident that the measures in this bill will right the wrongs in our state healthcare system, giving Illinoisans of color increased opportunity to attain emotional and physical wellness.”

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