The PAC is organized into five priority teams to address the priorities of the Maternal Health Strategic Plan (MHSP). Members of the PAC Priority Teams select recommendations from the MHSP to develop actionable strategies that will move the recommendation from idea to implementation. The actionable strategies align with the following priority areas. Click on the recommendations below to view the corresponding actionable strategies document.
Access to High Quality Care
Increase utilization of non-medical supportive services that can support greater cultural competency in perinatal care and improve health outcomes, like community health workers, peer support services, and doulas by working with providers and payors to encourage greater partnership with and referrals to non-medical providers. pdf View actionable strategies here.
Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders
Develop a mechanism for universal postpartum depression screenings and faster mental health and SUD referrals to support new mothers, which can also improve access to care and resources for women experiencing postpartum depression and improve integrated care programs and expanded mental health and SUD services. pdf View actionable strategies here.
Rural Health and Maternity Care Deserts
Collaborate with state agencies and other partners supporting rural healthcare development to leverage existing groups, venues, and resources around rural health to assess available resources, determine needs, and work to create collaborative efforts in counties and regions and across payors to address lack of maternal care. pdf View actionable strategies here.
Community Factors that Influence Health Outcomes
Explore and support existing policies and programs to improve housing and food security and access to transportation for pregnant and postpartum individuals and their families. pdf View actionable strategies here.
Expanding and Diversifying the Healthcare Workforce
Begin work to develop health care apprenticeship opportunities that focus on training underrepresented populations to expand the number of BIPOC midwives, doulas, community health workers, and home visitors to make maternal health care professions and paid training opportunities accessible. pdf View actionable strategies here.