Advancing Perinatal Care Learning Collaborative: Promising Practices to Tackle Maternal Mortality - Session 1

This four-part learning collaborative, Enhancing Perinatal Care Access in Underserved Communities, equipped health center professionals with actionable strategies to improve maternal health outcomes and expand access to quality perinatal care for individuals in low-income housing. This initiative aimed to support healthier pregnancies and reduce complications for mothers and infants by focusing on evidence-based practices, care coordination, and workforce development.

The collaborative highlighted individuals' unique challenges in low-income housing, including barriers to healthcare access, environmental factors, and increased exposure to early life stressors. Through expert insights and practical solutions, the series emphasized strengthening access to comprehensive, high-quality perinatal care, enhancing patient-centered approaches, and addressing factors that influence overall well-being.

Elisheva Khalfin Elbaz, MS, BSN, RN, RCST, Nurse Home Visitor at the Nurse-Family Partnership at National Nurse-Led Consortium, and Shanna Williams, LCSW, MEd, Perinatal Support Professional and founder of S.W. Doula, LLC, explored the role of maternal and newborn home visitation programs and how birth support professionals contribute to improving health outcomes.