House Resolution 1819
By: Representative Cannon of the 58th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and honoring Birth Responders and proclaiming May 8, 2026, as Birth
Responders Day; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Birth Responders is an innovative maternal response and wellness model
founded by Safira Zayas to address the urgent need for compassionate, culturally responsive,
and specialized maternal transport, emergency support, and wellness services for women and
families in both rural and urban communities; and
WHEREAS, Birth Responders was born from Safira Zayas's lived experience, professional
training, and unwavering commitment to reproductive justice, maternal wellness, and the
preservation of life, particularly for women and infants affected by longstanding disparities
in maternal health outcomes; and
WHEREAS, Safira Zayas is a devoted mother of four adult children, grandmother of six
grandchildren, and a multifaceted healthcare and wellness professional whose work has been
shaped by her service as a reproductive justice advocate, doula, traditional midwife, massage
therapist, and emergency medical technician; and
WHEREAS, through years of service to mothers, babies, and families, Safira Zayas
recognized a critical gap in emergency maternal support systems and responded by
envisioning a model that bridges pre-hospital care, maternal transport, birth support, neonatal
resuscitation awareness, infant CPR education, and holistic wellness services; and
WHEREAS, Birth Responders represents a pioneering and much-needed niche in community
care by combining maternal health advocacy, birth worker knowledge, emergency medical
response, and family-centered support into a model designed to improve outcomes and
restore dignity, safety, and trust for women during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum
recovery, and maternal crisis; and
WHEREAS, Birth Responders is also committed to building a workforce pathway for
women, doulas, midwives, and other birth workers by creating meaningful opportunities for
training, certification, leadership, and economic empowerment, with the goal of improving
not only maternal health outcomes but also the quality of life and long-term stability of
families and communities; and
WHEREAS, by developing a workforce rooted in compassion, cultural understanding, and
specialized maternal care, Birth Responders seeks to open doors for women to transform
their gifts into sustainable careers that strengthen households, create generational
opportunity, and expand the maternal health support system throughout Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the mission of Birth Responders is especially significant in the State of Georgia,
where families in underserved communities, including rural areas and historically
marginalized populations, continue to face barriers to timely maternal care, transportation
access, emergency response, and culturally responsive support; and
WHEREAS, Birth Responders further advances education, prevention, and preparedness by
promoting maternal wellness, infant safety, neonatal resuscitation support, and infant CPR
awareness, thereby strengthening emergency response capacity as well as family and
community resilience; and
WHEREAS, Safira Zayas has dedicated her life's work to ensuring that no woman feels
unseen, unsupported, or unprotected during one of the most vulnerable and sacred times of
her life, and Birth Responders stands as a reflection of her vision, courage, innovation, and
service to the people of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of Birth Responders Day would recognize not only the launch
of a groundbreaking maternal response initiative, but also the importance of protecting
mothers, supporting infants, uplifting families, creating workforce opportunities for women
birth workers, and advancing safer birth outcomes throughout Georgia and beyond.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize and honor Birth Responders for its visionary and
compassionate contribution to maternal health, emergency response, and workforce
development in the State of Georgia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that May 8, 2026, is hereby proclaimed as Birth Responders
Day in honor of the launch of Birth Responders and in celebration of the vision, service, and
leadership of Safira Zayas.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Safira
Zayas and Birth Responders.