California Leads the Nation in Maternal Mental Health Care, New Report Finds

California has earned the top spot in the nation for supporting maternal mental health, according to a recent report highlighted by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 1.

The state was ranked No. 1 by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, according to the governor’s office.

California’s rank was the result of several efforts prioritizing maternal mental healthcare, “an issue too often left without proper attention,” the governor said in the statement.

California was graded on the following criteria:

• Medi-Cal mandating Managed Care Organizations to report “prenatal depression screening” and “postpartum depression screening” according to the HEDIS measure. California emerged as the top performer among all other states on these measures, according to the governor’s office.
• California meeting the ratio of community-based organizations offering direct service for maternal mental health.
• California extending Medi-Cal coverage to one year postpartum.
• California’s state-sanctioned maternal mental health task force.

Acknowledging that pregnancy and the following few months are significant and “challenging moments” for every family, Governor Newsom said the state strives to care for and support every mother and connect them with resources.

“California has led the nation in recognizing that supporting mothers’ mental health is essential to building healthier families and stronger communities,” he said.

In April 2026, First Partner Siebel Newsom, California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos, and the California Perinatal Wellness Alliance convened statewide leaders to discuss how the state can boost its existing maternal mental health services, especially perinatal wellness.

Perinatal wellness includes care during and up to two years after childbirth.

The convention was held at El Camino Health in Mountain View, which is one of the only five perinatal inpatient psychiatric units across the country, according to the governor’s office.

U.S. Earns a C Grade

While California secured the first spot for maternal mental health support, the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health found that the overall performance of the country was mixed.

The U.S. received a C grade in the 2026 State Report Cards, improving from last year’s -C.

While California received a B+ grade, no state earned an A grade, highlighting the gaps in maternal mental health care across the country.

Overall, the U.S. earned an F grade in the new “Parental Support” measure, which addresses paid leave and affordable, accessible childcare.

The country’s national score underscores that it is failing to adequately support maternal mental health, according to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health.

The report cards evaluate states on 27 measures across four broad domains: screening and detection, providers and treatment, policy and payment, and parental support.