California’s perinatal mental health system is fragmented and inconsistent, leaving too many families without timely care. CPWA works to strengthen the policies, partnerships, and systems that shape how families access care—aligning public agencies, providers, and communities to build a coordinated, prevention-focused framework for perinatal mental health in California.
SB 626, co-created by CPWA and authored by Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, would transform the perinatal mental health system by strengthening screening, follow-up care coordination, and accountability statewide. In 2024-2025 the bill passed unanimously through policy committees, and is now being carried into 2026 to deepen stakeholder engagement, broaden public awareness, and build lasting consensus for reform.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Mandatory Screening and Treatment: Requires all perinatal providers to screen, diagnose, and treat maternal mental health conditions in accordance with American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and/or applicable clinical guidelines.
- Insurance Coverage: Mandates that health plans cover mental health services during the perinatal period, including case management and care coordination.
- Accountability and Reporting: Requires health insurers and service plans to report annually on the utilization and outcomes of maternal mental health services and to post this information publicly on their websites.
- Inclusive Language and Definitions: Expands the definition of “maternal mental health” to “perinatal mental health” to reflect a broader range of experiences, including all birthing patients, those facing fertility challenges, and individuals navigating pregnancy loss or postpartum struggles.
CA Perinatal Wellness Alliance 