Getting Public Health Done: $3.6 Million investment will help regional maternal health coalitions, improve care for mothers and babies

Shapiro Administration officials from the Departments of Health (DOH), Human Services (DHS), and Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) visited Penn State Health Children's Hospital in Hershey afternoon to highlight efforts to improve care for pregnant women and babies through local maternal health coalitions.

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Penn State Health Children's Hospital was one of four coalitions that received funding. With this new investment, coalitions will collect and analyze data in their areas to determine what local factors are contributing to maternal mortality and morbidity and to ultimately improve healthcare services for women and babies in their respective regions.

"One of the best ways to improve the health of mothers and babies is to lean into local organizations who know their community and are doing the 'boots on the ground' work every day," said Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen. "Providing financial resources to these maternal health coalitions supports their work to develop locally responsive and effective strategies to help Pennsylvania's mothers, babies, and families thrive."

The Shapiro Administration funded the creation of four regional maternal health coalitions to support local organizations that will implement recommendations from the 2024 Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) report to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies.

• Penn State University (South Central Pennsylvania),

• Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. (Central Pennsylvania),