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Project Name: State Maternal Health Innovation Program (U7A)
Applicant Title: ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES
Abstract Text: The Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health (BWCH) is the administrator of Arizona’s Title V MCH Block Grant, Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV), Maternal Health Innovation Program (MHIP), and Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM). The Bureau supports maternal health programming including family planning and preconception health. BWCH works closely with the ADHS Bureau of Assessment and Evaluation (BAE) on the Maternal Mortality Review Program (MMRP) and Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to collect and assess data on maternal health. BWCH has the skills, knowledge-base and statewide network of committed maternal health partners to successfully expand the reach, depth, and quality of maternal health initiatives statewide. In Arizona, findings from recent reports on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, highlight substantial racial disparities, as the rate of American Indian/Alaska Native birthing individuals had the highest Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Ratio - 40% higher than that of White non-Hispanic birthing individuals. Nearly 81% of all pregnancy-related deaths were deemed preventable. These same disparities persist in severe maternal morbidity with birthing people of color and rural residents carrying the largest burden. The Arizona Maternal Health Innovation Program (MHIP) has been successfully engaging maternal health stakeholders, community members, and individuals with lived experience through the creation of a statewide Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) and its implementation committees. The MHTF and the MHIP officially began work in December 2019. Despite the fact that within months, it was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, passionate and committed stakeholders and staff have been able to pivot and persist during this most challenging time. The unusual circumstances the pandemic created provided many obstacles and took the team into uncharted territory, however, it was also a wonderful catalyst for change, creating more innovative ways to address challenges and create a community of committed individuals that were more connected than ever. This funding opportunity would allow the MHI Program to focus on targeted maternal health initiatives that address the greatest disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity in Arizona. The strong base of community stakeholders are committed to continuing this work. The MHI Program also works in close collaboration with the Title V, MIECHV, PRAMS, and Maternal Mortality Review Programs to better align initiatives, increase opportunities, and have greater access to maternal health data needed to inform strategies, truly allowing the program to move the data to action. Project goals include: (1) Maintain a state-focused Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) to translate recommendations to action; (2) Improve collection, analysis, and application of maternal health data in Arizona; and (3) Promote and execute innovation in maternal health to improve outcomes through (a) increased perinatal mental health awareness, access and capacity, (b) supporting systems of care (AIM) and, (c) increasing awareness, access and capacity in communities that experience the highest disparities (AI/AN, rural, etc.) in Arizona. Health equity is a core component and integrated into each goal.