Project Summary:
The goal for this event is to strengthen the capacity of Wisconsin’s health workforce to provide culturally responsive, coordinated, and equitable prenatal and postpartum care. The anticipated impact is improved maternal and infant health outcomes, including increased prenatal engagement, reduced preventable complications, and better birth outcomes among underserved populations in Milwaukee and Racine counties.
This learning event addresses a key professional development gap in trauma-informed, culturally responsive prenatal education and care coordination. Many health workers lack consistent training in addressing social determinants of health, care navigation barriers, and continuity of support from pregnancy through postpartum.
Learning Objectives:
- Strengthen knowledge of evidence-based prenatal and postpartum care coordination strategies
- Enhance understanding of social determinants impacting maternal and infant health outcomes
- Build skills in culturally responsive and trauma-informed communication with expectant and new mothers
- Improve ability to connect families with community-based resources and supports
- Increase collaboration among healthcare, public health, and community partners
Event content will include expert-led presentations, interactive case studies, and panel discussions featuring maternal health professionals, community health workers, and clinical providers. Speakers from organizations such as community health centers, hospital systems, and public health departments will share best practices and real-world strategies. Training materials will include care coordination tools, screening resources, and referral pathways. These components will ensure that participants gain practical skills and actionable knowledge to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across Wisconsin.
The learning event is designed to engage a broad Wisconsin-based health workforce audience involved in maternal, child, and family health, care coordination, and community-based services. Anticipated participants will include professionals from nursing (including public health nurses), social work, community health workers, case managers, and care coordinators working within Medicaid programs and managed care organizations. Additional attendees are expected from local and tribal health departments, federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), hospitals, behavioral health agencies, WIC programs, and maternal and child health programs.
Community Partners: Milwaukee Health Department, Community Health Centers, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin