Become an Advocacy Representative or Advocacy Leader with the Missouri Maternal Action Network

The Missouri Maternal Health Action Network is looking for mothers with lived experience who are greater than 2 years into their recovery journey and who are interested in participating in a yearlong leadership and capacity-building opportunity. Mothers affected by substance use and mental health offer real value with their unique perspective when decisions are being made about them. They are engaging mothers with these lived experience from 5 regions across the state of Missouri. From each region, they are recruiting 1 mother with lived experience.

Program Requirements:

• Be in a period of sustained recovery (more than 2 years) from substance use or mental health

• Have access to stable Wi-Fi or internet connection

• Have access to a computer or phone

• Have access to a webcam

• Have a basic understanding of technology

Mothers who commit to the yearlong program and complete at least 80% of the activities will be compensated for their time. This includes a stipend as well as having their travel and expenses covered throughout the program. Stipends are as follows:

• Mom Advocacy Representative: $1200.00 ($300.00 quarterly)

• Mom Advocacy Leader: $1600.00 ($400.00 quarterly)

The program includes the following activities:

• Leadership & Self-Advocacy Academy (8 weeks)

• Additional leadership and capacity-building opportunities facilitated by the UMKC-IHD Leadership Team

• Monthly workgroup meetings

• Quarterly Action Network meetings

Over 12 months, participants will learn more about leadership and self-advocacy, personal values, effective communication, healthy relationships, and civic engagement.

The Leadership & Self-Advocacy program aims to:

• Empower and support mothers affected by perinatal substance use and mental health

• Provide knowledge, experience, and skill development that fosters personal growth and transformational change and promotes self-informed decision making

• Foster self-determination and self-advocacy skills for making changes in own life or family

• Enhance skills for engaging informally or formally with peers who are experiencing similar life experiences (peer support)

• Develop self-advocacy and leadership skills, knowledge, and confidence for participating in organizational, systems, or policy-level change activities

• Provide resources and education needed to access and navigate support services

• Provide transformational education to improve behavioral health outcomes for mothers affected by perinatal substance use and mental health

• Create opportunities for mothers to receive leadership and self-advocacy training

The application for this program can be found here.

For more information, contact mo_actionnetwork@umkc.edu