Meeting Purpose
This meeting aims to address the harmful effects of implicit bias and structural racism related to maternal health outcomes in the Mississippi River Delta (AR, KY, LA, MO, MS, and TN) by:
- Identifying community-led prevention strategies and interventions aimed at improving maternal and birthing outcomes.
- Developing recommendations for how community groups, community leaders, and government organizations can work together to effect change.
- Promoting the adoption of Cultural and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) as a critical element to improve maternal healthcare.
Agenda
August 9, 2022
| 8:30 a.m. | Registration |
| 9:00 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks Speakers: Mehran S. Massoudi, PhD, MPH, CAPT, US Public Health Service, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Region 6 Sharyl Trail, PsyD, CDR, US Public Health Service, Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Region 6 |
| 9:30 a.m. | Panel: Our Stories – Experiences in Utilizing Maternal Health Services Speakers: Alexis Jackson, CD-L, CD-PIC, Owner, Your Family Tree Doula Services, LLC Paige Jackson, Vice-President of External Relations, Abide Women’s Health Services Tiffany Martin, Mother of Four Facilitator: Simone Taylor, MS, RN, Region 7 Objective: Panel discussion sharing lived experiences and the maternal health system interventions necessary to improve outcomes. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:45 a.m. | Status of Maternal Health: Trends in the Delta Region Speaker: William “Sam” Greenfield, MD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Moderator: Derica Mack, MBA, Arkansas Department of Health Objective: Provide data to understand the scope and examine root causes of maternal health outcomes in the Delta region. |
| 11:45 a.m. | Introduce The Communities Improving Maternal Care Alliance Speaker: Ella Ewart-Pierce, MPH, OASH Region 6 Essi Havor, MSN, RN, PHNA-BC, HRSA Region 6 Objective: Outline a plan to harness the energy and expertise of conference participants to work together at the community-level to improve maternal health in collaboration with The Alliance. |
| Noon | Box Lunch – Sponsored by Arkansas Minority Health Commission |
| 1:15 p.m. | Mindfulness Meditation Guide: Kenya Eddings, MPH, CWWS, Arkansas Minority Health Commission Objective: Practice mindful meditation, both as a tool for caring for ourselves in this challenging work and learning techniques for utilizing mindful meditation in maternal health work with colleagues, patients, and/or clients. |
| 1:30 p.m. | Historical Perspectives on Structural Racism and the Impact on Maternal Health Speaker: Nakeitra L. Burse, DrPH, CHES®, CEO, Six Dimensions LLC Moderator: Roshunda Ivory, DrPH, CHES®, OASH Region 4 Objective: Provide root cause insight about history, social determinants of health, structural racism, and implications for maternal health inequities in The Delta. |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 p.m. | Breakouts: A: Reaching Birthing People in Rural Areas Facilitator: Rachel Piotrowski, MPH, CPH, HRSA Region 6 Objective: Consider responses to social determinants of health that may be unique to rural environments and their impact on maternal health. B: Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Maternal Health Care Facilitator: Corstella Johnson, MPH, CHES®, OASH Region 7 Objective: Discuss the importance of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS) across the continuum of maternal health care, and the use of the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health and Health Care (National CLAS Standards) as a framework for implementing CLAS. C: Substance Use Disorders in the Perinatal Period Facilitator: Monica Geiger, MSN, RN, CCHP, LT, US Public Health Service, OASH Region 6 Objective: Learn about successful strategies for substance use disorder support in the perinatal period and consider ways to expand and replicate the practices. |
| 4:00 p.m. | Breakout Report Back Facilitator: Essi Havor, MSN, RN, PHNA-BC, HRSA Region 6 Objective: Each group summarizes main topics of discussion from each breakout session. An in-person attendee will be called upon to report out. |
| 4:30 p.m. | Closing Thoughts & Evaluations Speaker: Kevin M. Greene, PhD, MPH, MA, OASH Region 4 Objective: Provide overview of the Communities Improving Maternal Care Alliance (The Alliance). Summarize next steps. |
| 5:00 p.m. | Adjourn |
August 10, 2022
| 9:00 a.m. | Welcome and Review of Day 1 Speakers: Sima Ladjevardian, JD, US Dept of Health and Human Services (US HHS) Ella Ewart-Pierce, MPH, OASH Region 6 |
| 9:15 a.m. | Advancing Maternal Health Through the Lens of Health Equity Speaker: Ekwutosi M. Okoroh, MD, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Facilitator: Kevin M. Greene, PhD, MPH, MA, OASH Region 4 Objective: Examine root causes of maternal mortality disparities and consider wide-ranging types of policies that affect social determinants of maternal health. |
| 10:15 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 a.m. | Centering our Stories for Collective Impact Speaker: Honour McDaniel, March of Dimes Seetha Modi, March of Dimes Facilitator: Simone Taylor, MS, RN, OASH Region 7 Objective: Clarify root causes of inequity based on lived-experience, identify “what works” in equitable, full-spectrum maternal healthcare, and explore ideas for how partners might implement “what works” in their communities. |
| 12:00 p.m. | Box Lunch – Sponsored by Arkansas Minority Health Commission |
| 1:15 p.m. | Mindfulness Meditation Guide: Kenya Eddings, MPH, CWWS, Arkansas Minority Health Commission Objective: Practice mindful meditation, both as a tool for caring for ourselves in this challenging work and learning techniques for utilizing mindful meditation in maternal health work with colleagues, patients, and/or clients. |
| 1:30 p.m. | Break |
| 1:45 p.m. | Breakouts: A: Reaching High-Risk Birthing People in Non-Traditional Settings: Telehealth & Innovative Programs Facilitator: Derica Mack, MBA, Arkansas Department of Health Objective: Provide overview of successful strategies to address high-risk pregnancy and positively impact patient care with the use of technology. B: Addressing the Lack of Representation in Lactation Facilitator: Corstella Johnson, MPH, CHES®, OASH Region 7 Objective: Consider the lack of cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity in lactation support services, across different types of providers including peer counselors, IBCLCs, and others. C: Innovative Strategies for Improved Birthing Outcomes Facilitator: Ella Ewart-Pierce, MPH, OASH Region 6 Objective: Discuss benefits of and opportunities for expanding collaborative care, access to doula services, and midwifery support for minority birthing people. |
| 3:00 p.m. | Breakout Report Back Facilitator: Monica Geiger, MSN, RN, CCHP, LT, US Public Health Service, OASH Region 6 Objective: Each group summarizes main topics of discussion from each breakout session. An in-person attendee will be called upon to report out. |
| 3:30 p.m. | Moving Ahead: Evidence-Based Community Action Speakers: Veronica Gillispie-Bell, MD, MAS, FACOG, Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative and Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Catherine J. Vladutiu PhD, MPH, Office of Epidemiology and Research, Maternal and Child Health Bureau Facilitator: Essi Havor, MSN, RN, PHNA-BC, HRSA Region 6 Objective: Identify and prioritize evidence-based actions that communities, local government, and federal government can take together to address the maternal health crisis. |
| 4:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks Speaker: Mehran S. Massoudi, PhD, MPH, CAPT, US Public Health Service, OASH Region 6 |
| 5:00 p.m. | Adjourn |
Special Thanks
A special thanks to our Planning Committee: Regions 4, 6, and 7 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Office of Regional Health Operations, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, and the Arkansas Department of Health.