Maternal Health Action & Resource Center (MHARC)
The newly established Maternal Health Action & Resource Center (MHARC) will provide capacity building assistance (CBA), training, and technical assistance (TTA) to State MHI and other HRSA MCHB award recipients. This center will broadly share and disseminate information about evidence-based strategies and guidance with the purpose of enhancing and strengthening recipients’ ability to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce the significant disparities faced by certain populations.
Providing capacity building assistance, training, and technical assistance to State Maternal Health Innovation Grantees
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.
Who
NICHQ, Maternal Health Innovation awardees, the MHARC Collaborative, comprised of the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP), 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.
Our Role
As the coordinating center, NICHQ will support 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 MHARC will strengthen state- and community-based comprehensive systems of care for maternal health via responsive technical assistance and capacity-building.
Funder
The Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Department of Health and Human Services provided financial support for this project. They may not reflect the policies of the Department of Health and Human Services or the U.S. government.
Project Impact
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 Maternal Health Action & Resource Center (MHARC) project or on related topics
Meet Our Team
Stacey C. Penny, DrPH, MPH, MSW
Executive Project Director
Isabel Zuckoff, MPH
Project Director
Dana West, PhD, MHS
Project Director of Equity
Kelly Edwards, MPH
Senior Project Manager
Elena Dillner, MSW, MPH
Senior Project Manager
Beverly Reyes
Project Manager
Aleena Surenian, MPH
Project Manager
Laura Sabino
Project Coordinator
Hannah Verdun
Project Coordinator
Jey Weisgerber
Director of Communications and Digital Strategy
Domonique Davis
Senior Manager, Communications and Digital Strategy
Nathaniel Pickett, PhD
Web & Product Manager
Rebecca Huber, MPP
Senior Analyst
Mariah Jiles, MPH
Analyst