Kansas Birth Equity Network & Heartland Conference on Health Equity and Patient-Centered Care present:

The 4th Annual Birth Equity Summit

Join us for the 4th Annual Birth Equity Summit, which will be held September 11-12, 2025 in Kansas City, KS.

Since 2022, the Kansas Birth Equity Network has been proud to co-locate the Birth Equity Summit at the Heartland Conference.

This year, we are excited to expand the Birth Equity Summit into a regional Maternal, Paternal, and Child Health (MPCH) Track. We aim to elevate regional and local efforts to advance MPCH and curate a space for cross-sector learning, community engagement, and collaboration.

Attendees will enjoy:

• Engaging sessions on maternal, paternal, and child health led by local, regional and national partners
• Intentional Networking Opportunities
• Birth Equity Awards Reception
• Birth Justice Walk
• Annual Baby Photo Contest

Register today

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Tentative Agenda

Thursday, September 11th

8am: Check In & Breakfast
9am – 12pm: Birth Equity Summit Sessions
12pm - 1pm: Lunch & Intentional Networking
1pm - 5pm: Birth Equity Summit Sessions
5:30pm - 7pm: Birth Equity & Health Equity Awards

Friday, September 12th

7am - 7:30am: Birth Justice Walk
8am: Check In & Breakfast
9am – 12pm: Birth Equity Summit Sessions
12pm - 1pm: Lunch & Intentional Networking
12pm - 1pm: Lunch
1pm - 2pm: Birth Equity Summit Sessions
2pm – 3pm: Fireside Chats: Intentional Networking
3pm - 4pm: Birth Equity Summit Closing Session
4pm - 5pm: Heartland Conference Closing Session

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Cost

Full Conference Attendance

• General attendees: $495
• Students, Government, & Nonprofit Rate: $200
• Includes:
  • Full access on Thursday, September 11th and Friday, September 12th
  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Birth Justice Walk
  • Poolside Networking Reception on Wed, Sept. 10th
  • Health Equity & Birth Equity Awards Reception
  • and more!

Single Day Attendance

• All attendees: $300
• Includes:
  • Attendance on Thursday, September 11th or Friday, September 12th
  • Breakfast & Lunch
  • Birth Justice Walk
  • Poolside Networking Reception on Wed., Sept. 10th
  • Health Equity & Birth Equity Awards Reception
  • and more!

Questions about registration?

Download the Birth Equity Summit Registration Guide!

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Scholarships

We strive to make the Birth Equity Summit accessible to everyone. There are two scholarship pathways available:​

Full Conference Scholarship: for community health workers, birth workers, advocates, and KBEN members  

• Includes full conference registration (Wed - Fri), travel, and hotel support.
• KBEN members will need to submit a letter of support from KBEN.
  • Please contact us for a letter of support: [email protected]​.

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​Birth Equity Summit Scholarship (Friday only): for parents, caregivers, community members, and KBEN members 

• Includes registration for Friday, Sept. 12 
• A letter of support is NOT needed.​

Our goal is to ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation. ​​If you need additional support to attend, ​please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly: [email protected]
We’re happy to work with you to find a solution!

Apply for a Scholarship

Scholarship Application Deadline: Friday, July 18th 2025

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does MPCH stand for, and how does it relate to the Birth Equity Summit? 
   1. MPCH stands for Maternal, Paternal, and Child Health. The Kansas Birth Equity Network has taken an intentional approach to including fathers and paternal health in Birth Equity efforts. 
   2. As part of this commitment, the 2025 Summit expands its focus to include MPCH-related topics, centering the roles of all parents and caregivers in advancing equitable birth outcomes. 
2. How much does it cost to attend the 2025 Birth Equity Summit? Are scholarships available?
   1. We strive to make the Birth Equity Summit accessible to everyone. While there is a registration fee to help cover event costs, we offer scholarships and discounted rates to reduce financial barriers. Our goal is to ensure that cost is not a barrier to participation. If you need additional support in order to attend, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly. We’re happy to work with you to find a solution!
3. What is the Birth Justice Walk?
   1. The Birth Justice Walk is an annual walk around the Children’s Mercy Park Pitch Apron that opens the Friday sessions of the Birth Equity Summit. It serves as a collective moment to honor those impacted by inequities in birth outcomes, and reaffirm our shared commitment to building an equitable future for parents and families.​
4.  What’s different about the Summit this year?
   1. The 2025 Summit is expanding into a regional MPCH Track in partnership with the Heartland Conference. This year’s event will welcome MPCH researchers, Community Health Workers, and advocates from across the country to share knowledge, strategies, and promote cross-sector collaboration.
   2. In addition to expanded content and regional participation, some sessions will now take place on Thursday, whereas past Summit sessions were primarily held on Friday.

Stay in Touch!

Email: [email protected]​​
Visit us on Facebook: @ksbirthequity & Instagram: @ksbirthequity
Learn more about the Kansas Birth Equity Network!