Make change by telling your story in person.

Let decision makers know why stillbirth prevention is important to you. Encourage them to support this important work.

We’ve created sample wording you can use in your request for a meeting with decision makers. It’s also important to share your personal story about why stillbirth prevention matters to you. Feel free to use the template wording below, and then find contact information for your Representatives and Senators. Many members of Congress have web contact forms where you can place your request and contact information as a quick and easy way to ask for a meeting with them or a member of their staff.

Sample Meeting Request

Dear [NAME OF ELECTED OFFICIAL],

I’m writing to you today to request your support in ensuring the safe and swift passage of the bipartisan Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education for Autumn Act (H.R. 5012/S. 2647) in honor of National Stillbirth Prevention Day, before the end of the 118th Congress. Every year in the United States, 21,000 families will lose a baby to stillbirth. Losing tens of thousands of babies every year should not be considered the norm and yet sadly here in the United States, it is.

With many of these stillbirths being preventable and occurring in healthy, low-risk pregnancies, we cannot afford to ignore the innocent lives lost or the countless families devastated by the death of their very much wanted and deeply loved baby. Time is of the essence, the need for action is urgent, we need the SHINE for Autumn Act passed! This bill would take critical steps to invest in improved data collection, research, education, and awareness, all of which are required to better understand stillbirth and identify strategies for prevention. Without progress in these areas, we will continue to remain limited in our understanding of why babies are dying, and we can do to combat this crisis.

I am so grateful to see stillbirth finally receiving more attention and to witness the impact of advocacy efforts that led to the recent passage of the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act. However, our job is not done. We must continue our work to get the SHINE for Autumn Act passed.

We can and must do better, for all moms, suburban, urban, and rural, and their babies — and we can with SHINE. Please join us in creating further meaningful change and move towards a future where fewer families will endure the heartbreak of stillbirth by helping us to ensure a safe and swift passage of SHINE before the end of this Congress.

We respectfully ask for a meeting with you or a member of your health staff in the coming weeks to share more about the SHINE for Autumn Act. We would like to discuss how this how this bipartisan bill would support evidence-based programs and activities and outcome research to reduce the incidence of stillbirth. 

Thank you,

[NAME]
[PHONE NUMBER]

We’d be happy to attend with you and can help you prepare. Please reach out to us at [email protected] in advance of your meeting request!