Women's Health
- Women's Health Home
- Maternal Care Access
- Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act
- Task Force on Pregnancy Health and Substance Use Disorders
- Innovations for Maternal Health Outcomes in Minnesota (I-MOM)
- Comprehensive Drug Overdose Response
- Minnesota Innovations in Perinatal and Infant Health
Programs of Interest
Perinatal Sub-Committee (PSC)
Background
The Perinatal Sub-Committee (PSC) is a subgroup of the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force. The PSC is a multidisciplinary, diverse, and community-led committee that is building a shared vision for perinatal health.
Goals
- To create a statewide perinatal strategic plan and create action-oriented workgroups that focus on improving perinatal health outcomes.
- To align efforts of the multiple committees that are working on perinatal health across Minnesota.
- To review the structure of the current Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force in order to sustain the PSC work past current HRSA funded program, Innovations for Maternal Health Outcomes in Minnesota (I-MOM).
Membership
Starting in January 2023, a diverse network of members was recruited. While recruiting, MDH staff were focused on ensuring representation from rural, Black, Indigenous, and new immigrant families. The PSC has a steering committee comprised of 10-20 members. After the strategic plan has been created, several topic-specific workgroups will be created.
Members of the PSC are representative of the following categories:
- Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force Committee Representatives.
- Maternal Mortality Review Committee Representatives.
- Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative Representatives.
- Community representatives that experience high rates of disparities including Black, other populations of color, new immigrants, refugees, rural communities.
- Health professionals, including OBs, midwives, pediatricians, behavioral health, community health workers, doula, etc.
- Tribal Nations and Urban Indian community members.
- Health Care system representatives.
- Payer and Insurance.
- Non-profit or other community organizations.
- Local and State Agencies (Local Public Health, Department of Human Services, Children’s Cabinet).
- Professional Associations/Academia.
- Birthing people.
- Social workers.
- Family home visitors.
- Parents/Caregivers
Expectations
The expectations of the PSC are to:
- Center birthing people and their experiences in all decision making.
- Have leadership that includes community representative as a co-chair.
- Provide regular updates to the full Maternal & Child Health Advisory Task Force (MCHATF).
- Build on partner work underway; incorporate existing feedback/recommendations from community.
- Release a statewide perinatal strategic plan.
- Create action-oriented workgroups that focus on implementing the strategic plan.
Structure
The Perinatal Sub-Committee (PSC) is a sub-group of the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force (MCHATF). The Steering Committee (PSC Leadership Team) is a sub-group of the Perinatal Sub-Committee. There will also be several topic specific workgroups.
Timeline
Phase One (January - July 2023)
- Hire internal staff.
- PSC membership development.
Phase Two (July - November 2023)
- Onboard external consultant to assist with aligning perinatal health priorities.
- Community feedback on strategies and recommendations.
- Create draft strategic plan.
Phase Three (December 2023)
- Finalize strategic plan.
Phase Four (2024)
- Create action specific workgroups to implement strategic plan.
Sub-Committee Members
Name | Affiliation |
---|---|
Audrey Tate | Minnesota Hospital Association, MN Perinatal Quality Collaborative |
Rachel Gilbertson | Carlton, Cook, St. Louis County Community Health Board |
Jennifer Greenleaf | Northwest Indian Community Development Center |
Lovena Kabba | Department of Human Services Policy Specialist, Maternal Mortality Review Committee |
Ashley Johnson | Hennepin County Public Health |
Michelle O'Brien | UCare Medical Director, Family Medicine Physician, Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force |
Najoicia Elmore | Clinical Social Worker, Doula, Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force |
Susan Thompson Boehm | MN Perinatal Quality Collaborative |
Valentina Zaragoza & Shashana Craft | Division of Indian Work |
Yvonne Butler Tobah | OB at Mayo Clinic, Maternal Mortality Review Committee |
Diane Banigo | Igniting Faces of Beauty, MN Perinatal Quality Collaborative |
How to Get Involved
- Monthly PSC Steering Committee Meetings - 4th Thursday of every month from 2-3:30 p.m.
- Join a topic specific workgroup.
- 1:1s and/or Open Office Hours.
- E-newsletter coming soon!
For additional information about the Perinatal Subcommittee, please direct your inquiries via email to: Ramya.Palaniappan@state.mn.us.