Series: What the ICE surge taught us about maternity care (How the system stretched to respond)
When a system is forced to stretch, it shows what’s possible | 3 min read
“It became clear that ignoring what was happening wasn’t going to be an option for anyone in healthcare.”
☝️That’s how Sandra Maurer, head ofMN Mental Health Clinics, described Minnesota’s response during the ICE surge.
As fear spread throughout our state, healthcare providers watched pregnant patients avoid OB clinics and hospitals because they were scared of being targeted or detained.
So they built a safety night almost overnight.
For my recent article for Postpartum Support International, I spoke with leaders from an FQHC, a safety-net mobile unit, equity-centered clinic, and outpatient mental health clinic – who refused to let these moms fall behind.
Here’s what they delivered:
🌟 Proactiveoutreach: Tracked missed appointments and risks to intervene before emergencies happened.
🌟 Flexiblecare: Expanded telehealth and phone visits, consolidated prenatal care, and launched a 24/7 multilingual hotline.
🌟 Mental health support: Shifted therapy from trauma healing to grounding and survival for patients living in daily fear.
🌟 Met basic needs beyond healthcare: Coordinated transportation, diapers and groceries, and connected families to legal aid and community resources.
🌟 Strengthened the safety net: Mobilized doulas, midwives, therapists, CHWs, and other trusted providers to keep moms connected to care.
Want to know what compassionate, connected maternity care looks like?
📣 Study how Minnesota healthcare providers responded during the ICE surge.
Here’s the frustrating part: None of these solutions are new.
We know what works. Trusted and culturally-responsive providers, flexible care, remote support, and proactive interventions–all working as a connected system of care. The surge simply forced us to do it.
And when a system is forced to stretch, it shows what’s possible.
But we shouldn’t have to wait for the next crisis to fund the things we already know families need.
One unexpected gift from this experience was bringing these maternal health heroes together at Let's Talk Women. We need more spaces where frontline leaders, advocates, researchers, innovators, and investors can learn from each other–then push the right care models forward together.
Thank you Munira Maalimisaq, Sheyanga Beecher, Sheila Kennedy, and Sandra Maurer for showing us what it means to serve our community with urgency, integrity, and dignity.
Follow the conversation on LinkedIn.
Read the full blog on Postpartum Support International here.
Learn more about what I’m fighting for.
