Honoree has ‘closed gaps in maternal mental health care’

2020 Mom Founder and Executive Director Joy Burkhard is selected as the Junior League of Los Angeles’ “2017 Community Achievement Award Honoree.”

In honoring Joy Burkhard, the Junior League of Los Angeles (JLLA) recognizes her work as the Founder and Executive Director of 2020 Mom, a nonprofit focused on closing gaps in maternal mental health care through education, advocacy and collaboration. Joy is a compliance officer at Cigna, and a sustaining member of the JLLA. Joy is also a member of Stanford’s California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative Executive Committee which sets the bar for improving maternal mortality and morbidity, as well as a member of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology Maternal Mental Health expert workgroup, which is looking to support OBGYNs and other institutions like hospitals in detecting and treating MMH disorders. Joy’s career in improving maternal mental health care began in JLLA’s Public Policy Council and the Junior League’s State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) as both a Delegate and Co-Chair where the Junior League wrote legislation and worked with partner nonprofits to advocate for change.

Joy’s work is important because according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, postpartum depression is the most common, yet most under-diagnosed, obstetrical complication in the country. Research suggests up to 20% of the approximately 4 million U.S. women who give birth annually will be affected by a maternal mental health disorder, including depression and anxiety which occur during pregnancy and up to one year postpartum.

Joy has been recognized for her leadership and vision in health care with several awards, including receiving the “Emerging Leader” award in women’s health from the federal Health and Human Services Agency, Office of Women’s Health (2016), Cigna’s Volunteer of the Year award (2016), and the Junior League of Los Angeles’ Founders Cup (2014).

The Junior League of Los Angeles will present Joy with her award at its 18th annual Harvest Boutique: Where Giving is Always in Style. The boutique will be held on Sunday, December 3, 2017, at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live. Tickets can be purchased at www.jlla.org.