AIM CCI is encouraging communities to come together using their Maternal Monologues Toolkit, whereby birthing people and their support systems can share their experiences related to the maternal health journey, illuminate what the national maternal health crisis looks like in their own community, and strategize about what they can do to address it. In this episode, Race for Equity's Deitre Epps is joined by Dr. Valerie Newsome Garcia to discuss how to use this toolkit and the importance of community storytelling in understanding and advocating for change in maternal health. Learn more about us ..read more

In 2017, Dr. Shalon Irving passed away after complications from giving birth to her daughter. A passionate trailblazer for community health, her legacy inspired the Dr. Shalon's Maternal Action Project, which works to address inequities and disparities for the Black women and women of color in maternal health. In this episode, learn more about Dr. Shalon's legacy and how MAP is on a mission to create a world in which Black women are heard, respected and cared for in their birthing processes. Participate in MAP's Giving Tuesday Campaign! Learn more about us, explore our resource center and find ..read more

In this special episode, Maternal Health Innovation is teaming up with AMCHP's MCH Bridges podcast to bring you this episode on maternal health policy successes, challenges and opportunities while discussing Colorado's recent passing of the Birth Equity Bill Package. A series of three bills designed to increase access to decrease inequities in and overall improve obstetric care in the state, this comprehensive and community-led response to the maternal health crisis is the first ever state led policy platform for birth equity. In this episode, host Laura Powis, program manager for Evidence-Bas ..read more

Language matters. Body language matters. Accessibility matters. Inclusivity and equity should be at the heart of all maternal healthcare touchpoints. In this episode, Fernanda Ochoa Toro, research coordinator at UNC Chapel Hill and a patient navigator for Spanish speaking patients at UNC Health sits down with Dr. Kristin Tully, research assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and part of the UNC Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health team to discuss Latina maternal health. Learn more about us, explore our reso ..read more

While several states are in the process of implementing Medicaid coverage for doula services, only a handful of states are actively providing that coverage. In this episode, host Deitre Epps, founder and CEO of Race for Equity, is joined by Averjill Rookwood, founder of The Corporate Doula, and Amy Chen, senior attorney at the National Health Law Program, to discuss the importance of accessible doula coverage and the National Health Law Program’s Doula Medicaid Project. The information in this podcast about states currently implementing Medicaid coverage for doula care is accurate as of Septem ..read more

Dr. Kira Schabram studies burnout as it relates to employees who view their work as a calling, as many healthcare workers do. So, how can you remind yourself that you're in the right place when you feel drained? In this episode, learn the signs of burnout to look out for and how to bounce-back from feelings of tiredness and cynicism in your work. Learn more about us, explore our resource center and find support for all maternal health professionals at MaternalHealthLearning.org. Maternal Health Innovation is a product of the Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center and is produced by Ear ..read more

RMOMS is a federally funded grant program that seeks to improve maternal health in rural communities. The Texas and Missouri RMOMS representatives with us today that you'll hear from our awardees of the initial pilot between the federal Office of Rural Health Policy and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Today, we discuss innovative solutions these teams are implementing to address issues facing birthing people in rural areas. Today's guests are Anna Taranova, Barb Gleason, Mariluz Martinez, Susan Kendig, Rebecca Burger, and Morgan Nesselrodt. Today's episode is hosted by Tanisa Adimu, assi ..read more

For true innovation in maternal health to occur, we need to take a look at what works (and what needs improving) with maternal health in various cultures. On this episode, we discuss learning from tribal and indigenous cultures, and the programs and trainings involved. Today's guests are Heidi Christensen and Lynn Lane, Maternal Health Innovation Program Managers at Arizona Department of Health Services, and Reena Oza-Frank and Ali Stevens with Ohio Department of Health's Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health. Today's episode is hosted by Kimberly Harper, the Perinatal Neonatal Outrea ..read more

Vanessa Caldari founded Mujeres Ayudando Madres because she I realized that midwifery care, especially in Puerto Rico, was really for people with access to the finances and the education to have that care. She didn't want midwifery care to be a privilege, so she did something about it. Vanessa Caldari is the founder of Mujeres Ayudando Madres, a nonprofit in Puerto Rico that supports birthing people from gestation to parenthood and helps them make informed birthing decisions. Today's episode is hosted by Leslie deRosset, implementation specialist at the University of North Caro ..read more

In the Appalachian region, poverty is a huge concern. Too often, pregnant women miss appointments because they don't have the money for gas. Or they'll have a baby on Thursday and return to work on Monday because they need the paycheck. And breastfeeding can be seen as for "hillbillies" or "rednecks." For our guests today, they saw the problem and found a way to help - a hotline to address transportation gaps, access to care, and support during the pandemic. Stephanie Hutchinson is the Founder and President of Appalachian Breastfeeding Network (ABN), Kate Tuttle is the membership chair of ABN ..read more