NICHQ Awarded $14.9M Maternal Health Training and Resource Center Project 

BOSTON – The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ), a nationally recognized leader in driving change to equitably improve maternal and child health, has been awarded the Maternal Health Training and Resource Center (MHTRC), a five-year project funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, part of the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).  

The MHTRC will translate science into practice by supporting state-level Maternal Health Innovation awardees to implement effective strategies and innovations that positively impact Maternal and Child Health (MCH) populations, especially those experiencing the greatest disparities. The MHTRC will strengthen state- and community-based comprehensive systems of care for maternal health via responsive technical assistance.  

“This pivotal opportunity builds on NICHQ’s longstanding expertise providing technical assistance and capacity-building via projects like the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives and the TA and Support Center for Healthy Start grantees,” said NICHQ President and CEO Scott D. Berns, MD, MPH, FAAP. 

While the global maternal mortality rate has decreased 43% since 1990, the U.S. is the only high-income country experiencing consistently high rates. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the 2022 maternal mortality rate in the U.S. was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared with a rate of 32.9 in 2021. Alarmingly, these rates vary widely among racial and ethnic groups. In 2022, Black birthing people experienced a maternal mortality rate more than double that of white birthing people, with 49.5 deaths per 100,000 live births.  

“To effectively tackle maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, we must strengthen our collective capacity to address structural determinants of health, support community-driven initiatives, and enhance data quality” said Stacey C. Penny, DrPH, MPH, MSW, Executive Project Director at NICHQ. “And most importantly, we must implement adaptive strategies rooted in equity to improve the lives of birthing people and their babies.” 

2017-19 data from Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) show that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, and more than half happen up to one year after delivery. MMRC data report that the top five causes of pregnancy-related deaths are mental health (including substance use disorders and deaths by suicide), hemorrhage, cardiac conditions, infection, and thrombotic embolism. These statistics, in combination with the fact that the U.S. spends 2.4 times more per person on average on healthcare compared to other OECD countries, demonstrate the urgent need for innovative and coordinated solutions to overcome the ongoing maternal health crisis. 

 
NICHQ and its core partners will comprise the MHTRC Collaborative, focusing on the unique needs of state-level Maternal Health Innovation grant recipients and the communities they serve. A key partner in this effort is the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP), the leading national resource and advocate for state public health leaders and others working to improve maternal and child health public health systems. NICHQ will also partner with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), HealthConnect One, and national clinical and birth equity experts to ensure responsive, equitable, and community-focused support for all grantees. 

The Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Department of Health and Human Services provided financial support for this project. The award provided 100% of total costs and totaled $14.9M. The contents are those of the author. They may not reflect the policies of the Department of Health and Human Services or the U.S. government. 

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ABOUT NICHQ: The National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) is an independent, mission-driven nonprofit boldly leading improvements in children’s health by addressing inequities and other complex issues facing families. With a deep commitment to health equity, NICHQ partners with local, state, county, and federal entities to improve the quality of care provided to children and their families. NICHQ turns 25 this year. Learn more at www.nichq.org.