our mission

National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) works to secure the human and civil rights, health and welfare of all women, focusing particularly on pregnant and parenting women, and those who are most vulnerable - low income women, women of color, and drug-using women. NAPW seeks to ensure that women do not lose their constitutional and human rights as a result of pregnancy, that addiction and other health and welfare problems they face during pregnancy are addressed as health issues, not as crimes; that families are not needlessly separated, based on medical misinformation; and that pregnant and parenting women have access to a full range of reproductive health services, as well as non-punitive drug treatment services. By focusing on the rights of pregnant women, NAPW broadens and strengthens the reproductive justice, drug policy reform, and other interconnected social justice movements in America today.

what's new

NAPW and Southern Poverty Law Center File Amicus Brief Against Prosecutions of Pregnant Women in Covington County, Alabama
June 18, 2008
Prosecution of Woman Struggling with Addiction During Pregnancy Draws Local and National Criticism. Over 25 Leading Medical and Public Health Organizations, Experts, and Related Advocates Say Prosecution Will Undermine Fetal and Maternal Health...

NAPW on WBAI Radio
June 04, 2008
Listen to Lynn Paltrow and Dorothy Roberts on the Joy of Resistance: Multicultural Feminist Radio @ WBAI Talking about: "THE POLICING OF PREGNANCY AND THE CASE OF REGINA McKNIGHT" Does a woman lose her Civil Rights when she becomes pregnant?...

More Coverage of McKnight Victory

Press on Victory for Ms. McKnight

Regina McKnight at Post Conviction Hearing

Ms.Mcknight1.2.jpg

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blog

NAPW and Allies Speaking Out

July 01, 2008
This week has been a big one for getting hard issues discussed in serious ways. Today, the newspaper of record for South Carolina ran a commentary by Barry Lester, PhD. and Sue Veer entitled A Measure of Justice for Regina McKnight. Starting on Sunday the L.A. Daily News began running a series about child welfare policies that routinely remove newborns from low-income women based on unconsented to and unconfirmed positive drug tests. This series by Troy Anderson, and entitled Drug war on moms. Toddler, newborn wrongly torn from family in stepped-up screening of pregnant women begins this way: Awakened by late-night pounding and his doorbell ringing, Palmdale resident Jesus Bejarano found a social worker and two sheriff's deputies demanding he turn over his 20-month-old daughter, Kelly. The social worker said Bejarano's 29-year-old wife, Cheila Herrera, had tested positive for amphetamines and PCP at Antelope Valley Hospital after giving birth to the couple's son a week earlier. Their son, Jesse, who was born prematurely and was still at the hospital, had already been placed in protective custody. more »

We Moved!

June 02, 2008
In 2007, NAPW had a major growth spurt. We went from an organization of 2-3 full time people to a core staff of 7-8 plus numerous consultants and interns. We outgrew our space and our systems. All of us have, for nearly a year, been crowded into barely 1,200 square feet with only 2 phone lines and limited network capacity. I am thrilled to announce that we moved to new space that will allow us to build appropriate infrastructure including fully networked systems. Our new offices are located at 15 West 36th Street Suite 901, New York, New York 10018. Mail from the old office will be forwarded to the new one (in case you were worried). There are many things about the office and location that are auspicious. . . more »

Regina McKnight -- Victory at Long Last

May 12, 2008


Prosecutions in Alabama? Say No!

March 17, 2008


On the 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

January 23, 2008


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