Program Background:
In 2020, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA), was contracted by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to develop a strategic plan in collaboration with tribal maternal health professionals. The Maternal Health Innovation program is funded nationally by HRSA and is designed to assist states in collaborating with maternal health experts and optimizing resources to implement state-specific actions that address disparities in maternal health and improve maternal health outcomes.
Program Purpose:
The purpose of the Maternal Health Innovation Program is to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in American Indian communities in Arizona.
Program Goals:
•Improve maternal mortality and morbidity in Tribal communities
•Improve access to maternal health data surveillance
•Improve maternal health partnership between tribal communities and the state
Current program activities:
- Establishing a steering committee to help guide and support strategies
- Develop a culturally relevant tribal maternal health strategic plan to improve health outcomes
- Help develop an evaluation plan to improve the ability to evaluate maternal health outcomes
Program Staff:
Leandra Jones, Maternal Health Innovation Program Manager
Sanju Timilsina, Epidemiologist II, Maternal Health Innovation Program