Introduction
The RHNTC invites Title X and TPP grantee agencies to apply to the Improving Maternal Health Through Systems Strengthening Community of Practice (CoP). This virtual CoP, which will run from February to June 2025, will examine how sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is an important indicator of maternal health outcomes. Together, participants will explore how SRH providers and adolescent health programs can contribute to system improvements to address maternal morbidity and mortality.
The CoP will encourage participants to partner with a Title V program to identify a new strategy—or strengthen an existing intervention—to improve maternal health. Guided by quality improvement, agency teams will establish a baseline and collect data to monitor their activities towards their identified improvement goal.
Monthly virtual sessions will provide an opportunity to interact with peers and national experts on specific topics, and to share successes, challenges, resources, and best practices to improve maternal health outcomes. By the end of the CoP, participants will be able to:
- Describe how social and structural determinants of health contribute to disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.
- Identify adaptive leadership strategies to mobilize others to tackle tough challenges in complex systems and thrive, let alone survive.
- Use the policy, systems, and environment (PSE) framework to identify challenges and solutions across system levels.
- Describe how impact is maximized when community efforts are linked in mutually reinforcing ways.
Participants
This CoP is open to Title X grantee organizations and TPP grantees. We encourage grantee organizations to include subrecipients and/or sites on their CoP teams. To leverage current strengths, agency teams will ideally consist of a Title X grantee in partnership with a subrecipient or service site and relevant Title V agency. Participation of the grantee organization enables capacity building at the grantee level, with the goal of replicating best practices/strategies across the grantee network. The RHNTC encourages program directors/administrators, program managers, clinical consultants, training directors, quality improvement directors, and strategic communication to participate in this CoP.
Structure
The CoP will include four monthly, 60-minute virtual sessions, with the first session being 90 minutes, from February 2025 to June 2025. Between monthly virtual sessions—which are designed to facilitate peer-to-peer learning—participating teams will engage in monthly coaching calls with the RHNTC to provide teams with individualized technical assistance.
Webinar and Learning Session Topics This webinar series is open to Title X agencies, Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) Program grantees, and similar organizations. | Dates |
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Webinar Series and Community of Practice (CoP) Office Hour Facilitated by RHNTC This office hour will provide Title X and TPP grantees an opportunity to learn about the Improving Maternal Health Through Systems Strengthening Initiative and to discuss CoP objectives. There will also be an opportunity for grantees to ask questions. | January 15, 2025
2–3 pm ET |
Webinar 1: EQUITY in surviving pregnancy and the first year of life Dr. Arthur James, MD, FACOG The persistence of the racial disparity in the opportunity to survive pregnancy and the first year of life is one of the most problematic challenges facing maternal and child health. What do the data tell us about these disparities for maternal and infant mortality and severe maternal morbidity? What are the root causes and what are we going to do about it? This conversation will take a deep dive into health disparities and the collective action required to achieve maternal and infant health equity. This webinar is the first in a series of four that will explore how sexual and reproductive health (SRH) providers and adolescent health programs can contribute to system improvements to address maternal morbidity and mortality. | February 19, 2025
1–2:30 pm ET |
Webinar 2: Using the PSE Framework to Enhance Reproductive Health Amanda Ryder, MPH, RHNTC; Naomi Clemmons, MPH, RHNTC Systems strengthening facilitates population-level improvements by focusing on the underlying structures that shape behaviors and outcomes. The policy, systems, and environment (PSE) framework provides an approach to systems strengthening to create healthier, more equitable communities. This webinar will walk participants through the PSE framework and explain how it can be applied to the SRH field. | March 13, 2025
2–3 pm ET |
CoP Session 1: Using the PSE Framework to Enhance Reproductive Health Dr. Arthur James, MD, FACOG; Amanda Ryder, MPH, RHNTC This learning session will examine how the PSE framework can be used in systems strengthening to address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. Participants will explore possible implementation strategies for their CoP quality improvement projects. | March 19, 2025
1–2:30 pm ET |
Webinar 3: Leading Change with Purpose and Humanity Mo Sook Park, Ed.M i-D Leadership Consulting We may believe that people are resistant to change—even when the benefits are clear, known, and often proven. In this webinar, we will explore the myth behind resistance to change, and diagnose the complexity of what it takes to lead change that sustains. We will introduce tools and frameworks to help us humanize those we need to engage in order to serve the missions we deeply care about. | April 9, 2025
1–2 pm ET |
CoP Session 2: Leading Change with Purpose and Humanity Mo Sook Park, Ed.M i-D Leadership Consulting Delving deeply into the topics explored in Webinar 3: Leading Change with Purpose and Humanity, this learning session will engage participants in discussion and reflection. CoP teams will explore system improvement strategies, while considering the myth behind resistance to change and the complexity of what it takes to lead sustainable change. The learning session is an opportunity to apply the tools and frameworks introduced in Webinar 3, as we work to humanize those we need to engage to serve the missions we value. | April 16, 2025
1–2 pm ET |
Webinar 4: Linking community efforts to create mutually reinforcing action Sylvia Cheuy, Tamarack Institute This session will explore community and partner engagement as a key strategy to maximize impact by coordinating efforts to address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. | May 21, 2025
1–2 pm ET |
CoP Session 3: Linking community efforts to create mutually reinforcing action Sylvia Cheuy, Tamarack Institute This session will further explore the value of community and partner engagement, and how linking community efforts is a core strategy to maximize impact in addressing racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. During this learning session, participants will consider the partnerships formed for their respective CoP quality improvement project; and how their collaborative efforts have been strengthened by this relationship. | May 28, 2025
1–2 pm ET |
CoP Session 4: CoP Wrap-up and Reflection Facilitated by RHNTC The final CoP session will center around presentations from each participating team. Presentations will include a summary of their system change, reflection on their experience in the CoP, and learning successes. Teams will share how they intend to sustain their work going forward using the PSE framework. | June 18, 2025
1–2 pm ET |
Application Process
Grantees should apply by February 3, 2024. Only one grantee representative from your organization needs to apply. Applicants will be notified of a decision by February 12, 2025.
