Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) today announced the selection of four applicants to help improve care for pregnant women and babies by addressing maternal health issues at the local level through the creation and enhancement of regional coalitions.
The Shapiro Administration-funded regional maternal health coalition grants are designed to support organizations that will implement recommendations from the 2024 Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) report to improve maternal health across the state.
“Pregnancy-associated deaths occur far too often, especially among Black women,” said Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen. “The creation of regional coalitions specifically focused on addressing the root causes of pregnancy-associated illness and death in their own communities is critical to improving outcomes. The Shapiro-Davis Administration is committed to supporting community-level response to ensure that every family across the Commonwealth can thrive and live to their fullest potential.”
The selected applicants, which all took part in a Request for Applications (RFA) process, represent four regions across Pennsylvania:
- South Central: The Pennsylvania State University;
- Central: Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania, Inc.;
- Northeast: Maternal and Family Health Services, Inc.; and,
- Southeast: Maternity Care Coalition.
The coalitions will be tasked with collecting and analyzing data in their region to determine factors that contribute to maternal mortality and morbidity. Using that data and working together with partners, they will determine which MMRC recommendations will help improve maternal health for women and babies in their region.
Applicants were selected through a competitive process that included evaluation of soundness of approach, personnel qualifications, applicant qualifications, and understanding of the project. Selected applicants will undergo a contract negotiation process to finalize a budget and statement of work. This process, which will take several months, establishes an agreement between selected applicants and the Department to fully execute requirements in compliance with the RFA.
Funding for the grants comes from Governor Josh Shapiro’s state budget proposals in his first two years to address and prevent maternal mortality, especially among Black mothers, who are nearly two times more likely to die during pregnancy or in the first year after a pregnancy than white women. Doubling last year’s investment, the 2024-25 budget includes an additional $2.6 million to continue capacity-building to enhance prenatal care, promote maternal health education, address racial disparities, and strengthen support systems, ensuring that every pregnant woman in Pennsylvania receives the comprehensive care necessary for a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth.
Maternal health is a concern nationally, with the rate of pregnancy-associated deaths on the rise in recent years. In Pennsylvania in 2020, there were 83 pregnancy-associated deaths per 100,000 live births; 107 Pennsylvanians lost their lives during pregnancy, delivery, or within one year postpartum.
The Department of Health’s newly-launched Division of Maternal Health Services will support the administration of the MMRC and the implementation of grant funding.
Information about the RFA issued in March is available online here.
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