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This message is being sent to local and Tribal health agencies, as well as maternal and child health contacts.
Announcing the Maternal Health Innovation Newsletter!
Welcome to the first quarterly newsletter from the Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) program! This newsletter will inform you about maternal health and related program activities, trainings, and funding opportunities.
If you have been forwarded this newsletter, please subscribe to stay informed.
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Maternal Health Innovation program news and updates
The Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) Strategic Plan published!
The plan was shaped by the voices and experiences of Wisconsin families, community-based organizations, public health professionals, tribal and local health departments, clinicians, and researchers.
Through listening sessions, collaborative planning, and analysis of lived experiences and statewide data, the MHI program and Maternal Health Task Force crafted a framework that honors what communities shared, what data revealed, and what is needed to drive meaningful change.
The plan outlines the importance of community centered care and support, data driven decision making, and transparency and sustainability through funding and resource allocation. We encourage organizations to use the plan's six key questions to start a conversation in your community!
Review and share the full plan or our summary of key takeaways.
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Community Conversations funding opportunity
The MHI program announces a funding opportunity for organizations to host community conversations with pregnant and postpartum women around maternal health.
The feedback provided will be integrated into the activities of the Maternal Health Strategic Plan and provide the MHI task force valuable insight to guide future planning and activities to impact maternal health in Wisconsin.
Note that this opportunity focuses on maternal health and substance use and applicants need to be currently providing substance use services to pregnant and postpartum women.
Applications are due on March 16, 2026. Learn more and apply!
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Maternal Health Innovation workforce meetings
The MHI team hosts quarterly maternal health workforce meetings to build community, share resources and provide information on statewide maternal health initiatives. The next virtual meeting is Wednesday, May 13, 2026, from 9–10:30 a.m.
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Maternal health events, resources, and spotlights
Spotlight: Wisconsin Rural Transformation Program
The Rural Health Transformation Program is a federal funding opportunity provided to states through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). DHS received a first-year award from CMS for $203,670,005 to invest in rural capacity, sustainability, and innovation across three major initiatives:
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Strengthen the rural health care workforce: Recruiting and retaining an adequate health care workforce is a challenge in rural areas, making access to quality, timely care for rural residents difficult. This funding will provide grants for innovative workforce projects in rural communities, support career pathways for rural health care providers, and fund services provided by community health workers.
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Drive rural technology and innovation: Rural Wisconsin needs the technology to support and reach residents, such as closed-loop referral systems and telehealth capabilities. This funding will invest in upgrades to rural provider systems, digital infrastructure, and develop a digital rural health care collaborative.
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Transform rural care through partnerships: Rural Wisconsinites experience fragmented coordination across primary care, specialty care, behavioral health, chronic disease prevention, and community social supports. This funding will stand up a competitive grant program for rural regions to create coordinated systems of care where multi-sector partnerships show a clear path to sustainability.
Sign up to stay informed and receive email notices about the Rural Health Transformation Program.
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Maternal health events and trainings
Fulfilling the Promise Conference, Professional Development Network for Family Support Professionals (Wisconsin Dells, WI), March 16–18, 2026.
Pregnancy Trust and Safety Symposium, Ob-Gyn UW–Madison (In-Person Madison, WI and virtual), March 19, 2026, 7:30–11:30 a.m.
Cultivating Connections, Department of Pediatrics, UW–Madison (Wisconsin Dells, WI), April 13–14, 2026.
Recognizing and Responding to Pregnancy and Postpartum Hypertension is a recorded webinar series from the Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care. Hypertension and/or preeclampsia contributes significantly to perinatal morbidity and mortality. The three-session series is to empower birth workers to deepen their understanding of maternal hypertension and apply their knowledge and skills to their practice:
Note: Additional webinars are available at Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care Learning Management System.
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Maternal health resources
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