Maternal Health Summit for Title X Staff: Opportunities to Strengthen Health Systems and Provide Preventive Health Services and Supports

The RHNTC invites Title X staff from grantee and subrecipient agencies to join us for the Maternal Health Summit for Title X Staff: Opportunities to Strengthen Health Systems and Provide Preventive Health Services and Supports on September 24 and 25, 2024 in Washington, D.C. 

Over 1.5 days, attendees will participate in interactive sessions designed to mobilize and equip Title X organizations to address maternal morbidity and mortality within their agencies and communities. Participants will work together to identify opportunities, strategies, and actions to increase awareness and understanding; and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality and disparities in maternal health¹ outcomes.

Summit Objectives

By the end of the summit, participants will be able to: 

• Understand disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, and how social and structural determinants influence disparities in access to care and health outcomes
• Explain the upstream role of Title X agencies in addressing maternal health by increasing access to preventive health services and supports
• Identify and apply actions Title X agencies can take to support maternal health outcomes in the communities they serve
• Identify resources to support Title X agencies, staff, and providers in delivering quality preconception health, maternal morbidity and mortality prevention, fertility, and infertility prevention services

For more information on the Summit, see the Agenda.

Session Slides and Resources will be added as they become available.

Day One Sessions

8:00–9:00 am | Breakfast, RHNTC case study video and networking

9:00–9:20 am | Welcome and introductions

9:20–10:45 am | EQUITY in surviving pregnancy and the first year of life… a dream deferred

11–12:15 pm | Health systems strengthening for improved maternal health outcomes

12:15–1:30 pm | Lunch and RHNTC case study video

1:30–2:30 pm | Grantee panel and discussion

2:45–3:45 pm | Reflection and action planning

3:45 - 4:00 pm | Day 1 wrap-up

Day Two Sessions

8:00–9:00 am | Breakfast and energizer

9:00–9:10 am | Welcome

9:10–10:15 am | Preventing and Responding to Intimate Partner Violence and Reproductive Coercion in Sexual & Reproductive Health Clinic Settings

10:30–11:15 am | STIs, Maternal Health, and Title X: Opportunities for Action

11:15–12:45 pm | Participant-driven “unconference” discussions

12:45–1:00 pm | Day 2 wrap-up, closing activity 

Presenter Bios

Christie Allen MSN, RN, CPHQ is Senior Director of Quality Improvement and Programs at The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Christie provides support to and supervision of the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) initiative, the Quality and Safety Department, and the Indigenous Health program at ACOG. She previously led a program related to opioid use in pregnancy at a state Medicaid agency and quality improvement for sexual and reproductive health at a Planned Parenthood affiliate. Christie has also practiced as a bedside nurse for more than 20 years in intensive care and inpatient obstetrics. Christie holds a degree in health care policy, and certification in neonatal nursing, health care quality, and obstetrical and neonatal quality and safety. She is passionate about the fundamental need for all quality improvement in health care to be rooted in equity.

Shanayl Bennett is a founding board member and Director of Community Engagement at the Michigan Chamber for Reproductive Justice. 

Allison Finkenbinder, MSN, WHNP-BC is a Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Provider with the RHNTC and a Senior Technical Associate with JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. As a sexual and reproductive health clinician since 2009, Allison has focused on STI and HIV prevention, family planning, and contraceptive care. Allison has provided TTA to clinical providers and health care organizations to: improve and expand STI and HIV prevention services, including PrEP and nPEP, DoxyPEP, syphilis screening and management; prevent congenital syphilis; and promote health and racial equity through anti-racist clinical care. 

Dr. Karen Trister Grace, PhD, MSN, CNM, FACNM is an Assistant Professor at George Mason University School of Nursing and has taught nursing and midwifery since 2007. A practicing midwife since 2000, Dr. Grace spent the first eight years of her midwifery career at Jacobi Medical Center, a New York City Hospital and Title X service site, and the past 12 years at Mary’s Center for Maternal & Child Health, a Title X-funded FQHC in Washington, DC and Maryland. Dr. Grace’s research focuses on intimate partner violence (IPV) and reproductive coercion, pregnancy intention, and health equity. She is lead editor of the 3rd edition of the textbook Prenatal & Postnatal Care: A Person-Centered Approach. Dr. Grace completed her PhD at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and her postdoctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a mom to two young adults and one elderly puppy.

Danielle Hallgren joined Konza Prairie Community Health Center (KPCHC) in 2018 and has served as CEO since 2022. Previously Special Staff to the Senior Commander at Fort Riley, as Health Promotion Officer for the First Infantry Division, Dani has worked at the local and state health department and participated in many grassroots efforts to improve public health outcomes, including maternal and child health. A rural Kansas native and Kansas State University graduate, Dani has more than 20 years of civil service at the local, state, and federal levels. Dani believes that access to health care—including reproductive health care—is a fundamental right that can only be achieved by organizational collaboration. KPCHC are “just people taking care of people,” and Dani is honored to be a part of the team dedicated to doing just that.

Dr. Arthur R. James, MD, FACOG, is a retired obstetrician, gynecologist, and pediatrician.  During his career he has been Ob/Gyn Division Director at an FQHC site; member of the Health and Human Services Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Infant Mortality; Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Pediatrics at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Co-Chair of the Ohio Collaborative to Prevent Infant Mortality; Executive Director of The Ohio State University Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity; Consultant to First Year Cleveland; Evaluator for the Indianapolis Healthy Start Program; and a member of the Franklin County Board of Health. In recognition of his contributions to maternal and child health, Dr. James received the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) Martha Mae Eliot Award in 2022. Dr. James currently provides consultation regarding achieving equity in birth outcomes.

Shades of Blue Project founder Kay Matthews and team are on a mission to uplift all birthing individuals with the care, respect, and dignity they deserve—no matter their social status or birth outcome. Located in Houston, Texas, Shades of Blue focuses on the birthing experience, bridging gaps by acknowledging that everyone's birth story matters. Through education, advocacy, and support, Kay and her team are dedicated to helping birthing individuals of color whose lives are impacted by racial disparities that amplify their birthing struggles. Kay explains, “It is from my own personal experience of infant loss and postpartum depression that I've recognized a critical diversity gap in mental health resources and emotional support for Black and minority birthing individuals.” These are the inequities Shades of Blue staff are working to dismantle through their work and advocacy.

Jeni McDonald, MPH is Family Planning and Reproductive Health Program Manager at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Jeni launched her career teaching the Community Toolbox at the Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas, where she fell in love with research. Jeni then led a clinical research team in understanding the intergenerational aspects of trauma and resilience between preschoolers and their parents. During the COVID pandemic, Jeni led a 60-plus person team in disease mitigation and large-scale vaccination. Jeni later joined KDHE, where she has focused on increasing funding, education, and contraceptive access for the Title X workforce. She’s co-created an upcoming maternal health project aimed at decreasing maternal morbidity in Kansas. 

Dr. Thérèse Obioha, DO is the former Director of Primary Care Services for Avenue 360 Health and Wellness. A graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana and Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Obioha has worked in health care administration for five years as a Director and Interim Chief Medical Officer for Avenue 360. As Director of Primary Care Services, she oversaw medical staff and ensured effective and efficient delivery of quality medical care consistent with the mission and vision of Avenue 360. Dr. Obioha also ensured the ongoing development and implementation of policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of medical services. A Family Medicine Physician, Dr. Obioha continues to provide culturally competent care to pediatric patients and their families. She enjoys caring for the young to the young-at-heart.

Amber Rabines, MSN is Senior Clinical Quality Specialist at Every Body Texas. Amber joined Every Body Texas in March 2021 and is passionate about promoting equitable, client-centered care and reproductive justice values in her work with her colleagues and sub-recipients. Before joining Every Body Texas, Amber worked for more than 15 years in maternal and child health, including as a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) at an FQHC, a Nurse Home Visitor with Nurse Family Partnership Program, and a manager of the Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) program in northern New Jersey. Amber graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and earned her Master’s in Science Nursing (MSN) with a focus in midwifery from Yale University School of Nursing. For Amber, midwifery doesn’t just represent an educational background and career path, but a deeply felt connection with her ancestors and Black midwives in the US, who have historically provided holistic care to birthing people, babies, and communities.

Inderveer Saini is Program Data Analyst II at The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

There is no registration fee to attend the Maternal Health Summit.

The RHNTC will provide a $1,000 fixed travel expense for up to 2 individuals per agency to defray expenses associated with attendance. All fixed travel expense reimbursements will be paid to the grantee or subrecipient agency, not to individual attendees. Funds will be paid directly to grantee and subrecipient agencies following summit attendance, and approximately 30 days after submission of the required paperwork. After registration, the RHNTC will provide detailed instructions for how to receive the funds.

The RHNTC will offer lodging at The Morrow Hotel (summit venue) at no cost to registrants. All confirmed registrants will be included on the RHNTC’s master rooming list. An opt-out option is available in the registration form. Email rhntc@jsi.com with any questions or concerns, or if you need further assistance to support your attendance.

Room reservations for The Morrow Hotel may be canceled up until September 2.

Hotel information. The Morrow Hotel is located at 222 M Street NE, Washington, D.C. Check-in time is at 4:00 pm and check-out time is at 11:00 a.m. A credit card will be required upon check-in to cover any incidental or personal charges to the room.  

Air and ground travel. Washington D.C. is serviced mainly by two airports, DCA located in Arlington, VA and IAD located in Dulles, VA; however BWI-Baltimore/Washington is also an option located in Baltimore, MD. It will take approximately 20-40 minutes depending on traffic via ride-share or taxi from DCA-Washington National Airport; 45-80 minutes depending on traffic via ride-share or taxi from IAD-Dulles International Airport; and 45-80 minutes depending on traffic via ride-share or taxi from BWI-Baltimore/Washington Airport.

Meals. During the Summit, breakfast will be provided on day one and day two, and lunch provided on day one. Snacks and beverages will be provided during breaks.

The RHNTC will follow CDC's Respiratory Guidance for the Summit. Attendees are encouraged to mask when traveling to and from the Summit. The RHNTC will provide high-quality masks during the Summit for those who choose to wear them.