The Perinatal Health Equity Collective Policy Workgroup prioritized the following NC Perinatal Health Strategic Plan (PHSP) strategy that aligns with the 2022 NC SHIP. The numbers included with the prioritized policies refer to the strategy numbers in the PHSP, https://wicws.dph.ncdhhs.gov/phsp/.

Teen Births

• 12F. Increase same-day access to all methods of contraception

Early Prenatal Care

• 1E. Perinatal health care providers should participate in training around health equity, implicit bias, and cultural competency
• 7E. Increase the number of Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs) that cover doula services
• 7G. Elevate the role of community health workers in addressing the social drivers of health
• 9A. Expand Medicaid to provide affordable, comprehensive health, behavioral health, and dental insurance coverage, including mobile health and telehealth for all
• 9I. Implement the NC Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) scholars program to recruit and train students of color and students from rural backgrounds to become providers in underserved areas
• 10A. Expand the use of evidence-based and evidence-informed models of perinatal care highlighted in the Maternal Health Innovation Program, including doula services, group prenatal care, group child visits, and community health workers

Infant Mortality

• 1D. Provide training to all NCDHHS staff and ongoing professional development on equity that builds understanding of and competencies to advance health equity
• 1E. Perinatal health care providers should participate in training around health equity, implicit bias, and cultural competency
• 7E. Increase the number of Prepaid Health Plans (PHPs) that cover doula services
• 7G. Elevate the role of community health workers in addressing the social drivers of health
• 7J. Expand efforts to prevent infant deaths related to unsafe sleep environments
• 9A. Expand Medicaid to provide affordable, comprehensive health, behavioral health, and dental insurance coverage, including mobile health and telehealth for all
• 10A. Expand the use of evidence-based and evidence-informed models of perinatal care highlighted in the Maternal Health Innovation Program, including doula services, group prenatal care, group child visits, and community health workers
• 10F. Adopt maternal and neonatal risk-appropriate levels of care that align with national standards
• 10Q. Support the creation of a statewide 24-hour breastfeeding support hotline
• 12F. Increase same-day access to all methods of contraception

The Perinatal Health Equity Collective (PHEC) Data and Evaluation Work Group compiles data annually for the Perinatal Health Equity Strategic Plan’s data indicators and monitors new data sources. In addition, they promote data quality improvement and assist other PHEC work groups to move data to action, focusing on a research action plan and providing technical assistance for the environmental scan.

Progress on the Perinatal Health Equity Strategic Plan is also being tracked internally by the North Carolina Division of Public Health; the most recent plan is available on the Division of Public Health’s website at https://wicws.dph.ncdhhs.gov/phsp/.

October 27, 2022, 2:00 to 3:00 pm, PHEC Policy Workgroup Meeting

Attendees: Elizabeth Hudgins, Morgan Forrester Ray, Kelly Kimple, Brittany Garner, Jessica Johnson, Sarah Verbiest, Erin McClain, Belinda Pettiford, Susan Gutierrez, Jill Sergison, Velma Taormina, Kaylan Szafranski, David DiMatteo, Karen Saxer, Kella Hatcher

Discussion:

• Elizabeth Hudgins shared the NC Pediatric Society’s 2022 Policy Agenda and their anticipated policy agenda for 2023.
• Dr. Kelly Kimple shared the NC State Health Improvement Plan (NC SHIP) priorities and Perinatal Health Strategic Plan alignment. The workgroup discussed potential policy areas to focus on for the teen births, early prenatal care, and infant mortality indicators.

September 22, 2022, 9:00 to 10:00 am, PHEC Policy Workgroup Meeting

Discussion:

• MomsRising and the March of Dime’s shared their anticipated policy agendas and alignment with the 2022-2026 Perinatal Health Strategic Plan. 
• The Policy Workgroup meeting in October 2022 will include presentations from the NC Pediatric Society and the NC SHIP, along with their alignment with the Perinatal Health Strategic Plan.

September 16, 2022, Update

• The Co-Leads were invited to join the Perinatal Health Equity Collective’s Policy Workgroup to begin discussing policy strategies that are supported by both the NC SHIP and the 2022-2026 Perinatal Health Strategic Plan. Additional members that have been engaged in NC SHIP work will be invited to attend future workgroup meetings

August 31, 2022, 12:00 to 2:00 pm, Perinatal Health Equity Collective (PHEC) Meeting

• Celebrated the release of the 2022-2026 Perinatal Health Strategic Plan.

August 10, 2022, 3:00 to 4:00 pm, Co-Lead Planning Meeting

Co-Leads: Annette Carrington, Brittany Garner, Kelly Kimple, and Velma Taormina

Discussion:

• Agreed to combine all three indicators, Teen Births, Early Prenatal Care, and Infant Mortality, into one group and that all three indicators could fall under the Perinatal Health Equity Collective.
• Discussed potential work group members and community co-leads.
• Determined need to contact the Perinatal Health Equity Collective (PHEC) to ask about including this group in their Policy Work Group. Kelly Kimple to contact the PHEC.
• Invited potential work group members contacted to attend the Perinatal Health Equity Collective (PHEC) meeting on August 31, 2022. This meeting would be an opportunity to learn more about the PHEC.