08.20.26
To give young children the best start in life, we need to make sure their moms are healthy during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Unfortunately, preventable maternal mortality is altogether too common: in a review of pregnancy-related deaths that occurred between 2016 and 2023, the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee determined that 79% were preventable.
The A Million Moments for Maternal Mortality Prevention Conference, which took place on July 29 and 30 in Kansas City, addressed this issue. The conference is organized around the idea that there are a million moments in which critical interventions such as increased screenings, care coordination, and patient education can save mothers’ lives. “A Million Moments for Maternal Mortality Prevention is about harnessing small, actionable moments that add up to meaningful improvements—preventing tragedy and improving outcomes for mothers, babies, and families,” said Jennifer Guarino, a research project manager at the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research and an organizer of the event.
The conference included presentations on improving access to care, maternal mental health, substance use, and effective use of data. These topics speak directly to the recommendations of the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee on preventing pregnancy-related deaths, including the importance of patient education and empowerment, emphasizing continuing mental health treatment, and better communication and collaboration among providers. They are also in alignment with strategies in the All In For Kansas Kids Strategic Plan around offering multigenerational mental health services, expanding maternal health services, and timely and effective use of referrals.
The conference was hosted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with funding from Kansas Connecting Communities (KCC), the Maternal Anti-Violence Innovation and Sharing (MAVIS) Project, and the Kansas Maternal Health Innovation Program.
Read more about initiatives promoting Kansans’ perinatal health here.
08.20.26
To give young children the best start in life, we need to make sure their moms are healthy during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Unfortunately, preventable maternal mortality is altogether too common: in a review of pregnancy-related deaths that occurred between 2016 and 2023, the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee determined that 79% were preventable.
The A Million Moments for Maternal Mortality Prevention Conference, which took place on July 29 and 30 in Kansas City, addressed this issue. The conference is organized around the idea that there are a million moments in which critical interventions such as increased screenings, care coordination, and patient education can save mothers’ lives. “A Million Moments for Maternal Mortality Prevention is about harnessing small, actionable moments that add up to meaningful improvements—preventing tragedy and improving outcomes for mothers, babies, and families,” said Jennifer Guarino, a research project manager at the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research and an organizer of the event.
The conference included presentations on improving access to care, maternal mental health, substance use, and effective use of data. These topics speak directly to the recommendations of the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee on preventing pregnancy-related deaths, including the importance of patient education and empowerment, emphasizing continuing mental health treatment, and better communication and collaboration among providers. They are also in alignment with strategies in the All In For Kansas Kids Strategic Plan around offering multigenerational mental health services, expanding maternal health services, and timely and effective use of referrals.
The conference was hosted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment with funding from Kansas Connecting Communities (KCC), the Maternal Anti-Violence Innovation and Sharing (MAVIS) Project, and the Kansas Maternal Health Innovation Program.
Read more about initiatives promoting Kansans’ perinatal health here.