Equity Systems Continuum
In response to the impact of systemic racism and other forms of oppression on maternal and child health outcomes, this project aims to create tools for equitable change within both organizations and systems.
Who
NICHQ is building on work by Dr. Stacy Scott, PhD, MPA, VP of Health Equity Innovation at NICHQ, and the Global Infant Safe Sleep (GISS) Center, which developed an evidence-informed conceptual framework known as the Equity Systems Continuum to describe and define the systems wherein individuals and organizations currently operate., In addition to community partners, NICHQ will further collaborate with various maternal and child health content experts and stakeholders.
Our Role
NICHQ’s role in this project will be multi-faceted. NICHQ will work on validating and producing a final Equity Systems Continuum Framework to guide systemic change in maternal and child health, NICHQ will develop an Equity Systems Auditing Tool (ESAT) for organizations to audit longstanding policies and practices that contribute to systemic racism and other forms of oppression. An implementation plan will support organizations and health systems to determine where on the Continuum an organization sits and what strategies can be implemented to move within the continuum. NICHQ will be able to show our own internal progress along the Equity Systems Continuum based on periodic internal assessments.
Project Impact
Project Impact
The Equity Systems Continuum (ESC), led by NICHQ’s Department of Health Equity Innovation (DHEI) in partnership with the Department of Applied Research and Evaluation (DARE), works to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in MCH workplaces and health systems. In 2023, the ESC project fostered relationships with two health systems, analyzed data from 11 key informant interviews to validate the ESC, presented preliminary ESC validation findings at the Association for Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) Conference, and analyzed Equity Systems Audit Tool (ESAT) data collected from 143 respondents. In 2024, the ESC project will work with two health systems to disseminate and analyze the ESAT among their health care workforce, in addition to continuing ESC validation efforts.
External Resources
State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
List of PQCs funded by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Power of PQCs
Video showing the impact that PQCs have on the communities they serve. Produced by the NNPQC.
PQCs in the News
Articles in news outlets covering state PQCs, their activities, and the people that work in the collaboratives.
Patient Safety Bundles
From the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health. PSBs are collections of evidence-informed best practices that address clinically specific conditions in pregnant and postpartum people. The NNPQC helps provide TA and support to PQCs in adopting the core AIM Perinatal Mental Health Bundle.
Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
The CDC’s landing page for PQCs, including helpful infographics, videos, and links to help explain what PQCs are, how they work, and stories, learnings, and publications that have come out of the state PQCs.
Related Content
Resources produced by the Equity Systems Continuum project or on related topics
Meet Our Team
“In our deep organizational work to move along the Equity Systems Continuum from a Savior-Designed System to an Equity-Empowered System, we acknowledge the power of action. The potential is limitless for today’s commitments to improve the systems in which health care and public health professionals work and families receive care.”
