Maine AHEC was one of four AHECs nationwide selected for a mini grant from HRSA to work with National AHEC Organization and the Maternal Health Learning & Innovation Center, a national hub facilitating stakeholders to eliminate preventable maternal deaths, decrease maternal morbidity and improve outcomes toward health equity.
This grant will allow Maine AHEC to promote expansion and diversification of maternal health care within Maine. Health equity will be the focus as we look at Maine’s maternal health landscape, particularly among on vulnerable communities (rural, Native American and New Mainer populations). In particular, Maine AHEC will raise awareness and encourage discussion regarding Black maternal mortality rates and what Maine is doing to respond. Maine AHEC received notice of the award at the end of April and the contract was finalized May 12th. Collaboration with our AHEC partners who also received awards has already begun.
With this award, Maine AHEC will produce and host an event in October 2023 incorporating students, interprofessional members of the maternal health community, and key partners to address this important need within Maine’s healthcare system. We will screen a 20 minute film and facilitate a panel discussion including a broad range of experts from Maine’s maternal health and postpartum community. The event is open to the public; we hope to welcome many who are interested in maternal care health professions. We are planning on an informative, interactive and lively discussion!
UNE students, including AHEC CUP scholars, will be invited to participate in planning and executing the event. Through mentoring, our AHEC pipeline students will have access to the information from this event. It will also coincide with the development of a new AHEC Case Competition case study, which will focus on maternal care for a New Mainer family.
Following the event, Maine AHEC will collaborate with the awardee task force to develop a toolkit for best practices and to disseminate lessons learned.
Maine AHEC is excited to build upon previous work and our commitment to building capacity and a strong future for Maine’s maternal health.