The purpose of the Communities Improving Maternal Health Alliance (the Alliance) is to improve maternal health outcomes in US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regions 4, 6 & 7 by decreasing health disparities. Regions 4, 6, & 7 include: AL, AR, FL, GA, IA, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO, NB, NM, NC, OK, SC, TN & TX and 83 federally recognized tribes. The Alliance focuses particularly on outcomes for those living in rural areas and people from racial and ethnic minority groups facing severe health disparities including, African Americans, American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN), and Pacific Islanders.
The Office of Regional Health Operations (ORHO) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA)/ Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA), and the Arkansas Minority Health Commission (AMHC) hosted a Tri-Regional Maternal Health Conference in August 2022. At this two-day convening, stakeholders identified community-led prevention strategies and interventions aimed at improving maternal and birthing outcomes in the Mississippi River Delta (AR, KY, LA, MO, MS, and TN). They collectively started the process for developing recommendations for community groups, leaders, and government organizations to affect change.
Following the Tri-Regional Maternal Health Conference, participants and others were invited to form the Communities Improving Maternal Care Alliance (The Alliance). The Alliance is an affiliation of partners working toward recommendations outlined during the Tri-Regional Maternal Health Conference that promote maternal health.
