Maternal Health Professional and Clinic Learning Opportunities
Our goal is to improve care for postpartum people and their families. Our team partners with experts, organizations, and people with lived experiences to promote quality, person-centered postpartum care and increase understanding of best practices to advance maternal health outcomes.
For the latest calendar of events & trainings, please join our email list.
September 2024 Learning Community
Disability and Maternal Health: a conversation about advancing equity through a reproductive justice lens with Dr. Monika Mitra, Brandeis University, and Dr. Lauren Smith, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
September 17, 2024 from 12-1pm ET
Join the 4th Trimester Project team at UNC for a free, virtual webinar about “Maternal Health and Disabilities” on September 17th from 12-1pm ET. This event is open to the public – content is intended for maternal and public health professionals and healthcare team members.
1-Nursing Contact Hour is Available for the Live Session. Contact Kimberly_Harper@med.unc.edu for information. This is a free event. Spots are limited.
COMING SOON: “Making Postpartum Better” Module
This 1-hour learning opportunity will set the stage for components needed to improve birth experiences for both families and care teams. Nursing contact hours will be provided for completion of the course. Be sure you are subscribed to the 4th Trimester Project newsletter so you know when the Module is available: newmomhealth.com/newsletters.
Upcoming Community of Practice Events:
August 22nd, 2024
Maternal Mental Health Policies & Advocacy
Beyond the 4th Trimester – Navigating Perinatal Mental Health
Presented by: Erin Crites, Doula, Postpartum Support International North Carolina Chapter Co-Chair & Advocacy Lead
August 22nd 2024 – 12pm ET
Receiving Nursing Contact Hours
1.0 Nursing Contact Hours will be provided for select education offering. To receive contact hours, you must attend the entire live session and complete the evaluation. UNC Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the North Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Credits are available via Thinkific Platform. You will be required to create a free login to receive the credits. Contact Kimberly Harper.
2024 Past Events / Recordings Available:
Birth Justice IS Social Justice: Exploring and Expanding the Role of Social Workers and Health Teams in Addressing Racism in Maternal Health Care – Presented by Dr. Charity Watkins, Equity Before Birth
Strengthening the Postpartum Visit – Discussion led by Drs. Rose Molina and Kristin Tully (this session was not recorded).
Prioritizing Black Maternal Mental Health: Learning from the Knowledge of Experts – presented by Jasmine L. Garland McKinney, PhD, LCMHCA (NC), NCC, Postdoctoral Associate, the University of Maryland, College Park
Medicaid Expansion: Overview for Postpartum and Maternal Health Care – presented by Dr. Velma Taormina and Dr. Rachel Urrutia
Supporting Birthing People & Care Teams: 4th Trimester Project Postpartum Care Tools – in partnership with the Maternal Health Learning & Innovation Center
Exploring Black/White racial disparities in postpartum care in the United States – Presented by: Burcu Bozkurt, PhD, Consultant, Enterprise Strategy at CareFirst, Doula & Childbirth Educator
Multi-agency coordination for postpartum health: An example with infant safe sleep with Neha Saggi
Listening to Our Latina Mothers (Escuchando a Nuestras Madres Latinas) – Presented by: Emilia Suarez, Health Promotion Coordinator, CityGate Dream Center, and Nkechi Charles, MA, 4th Trimester Project
View the Start Early 3-part Maternal Wellness Series here. This was carried out by members of the 4th Trimester Project team with a team of subject matter experts for Start Early.
2023 Learning Community: Postpartum Care for NC Parents Recordings:
- Inclusive Care Practices for Transgender Individuals with Kayden Coleman – Find details here. Hosted by UNC School of Social Work and the Maternal Health Learning and Innovation Center.
- Listening to Our Latina Mothers (Escuchando a Nuestras Madres Latinas) – Presented by: Emilia Suarez, Health Promotion Coordinator, CityGate Dream Center, and Nkechi Charles, MA, 4th Trimester Project
- Fatherhood in the 4th Trimester: Supporting postpartum experiences for fathers and partners – Presented by Brandon “Diggs” Williams, LCSW, Center of Transformation, PLLC, and Juan Irby, LD, PD, NPE, Dad2Dudla – this session took place September 14, 2023.
- Understanding the Trauma of Perinatal Loss for Patients and Providers with Dr. Ashley Johnson, Duke – this session took place June 22nd, 2023.
- Best Practices with the 4th Trimester Heart Health with Dr. Jo Quist-Nelson, UNC, recorded on May 25th, 2023.
- Lessons Learned from Psychological Trauma on Birthing Families During and Post-COVID with Dr. Kallie Drexler, UNC, recorded April 27th, 2023.
- IMPLICIT Network Updates in NC with Dr. Narges Farahi, UNC Family Medicine, recorded March 23rd, 2023.
- Best Practices in Supporting Postpartum Families Around Substance-Use with UNC Horizons, recorded February 23rd, 2023.
- Lactation Support and Education with Kathy Parry and Catherine Sullivan, Ready Set Baby, recorded January 26, 2023.
- Postpartum Support Groups / Strategies and Supporting the ‘Village,’ Ste’Keira Shepperson, Triangle Doulas of Color, recorded Dec 15, 2022.
- Dignity Bill, Postpartum and Incarcerated Women’s Health, Erin McClain, MA, MPH, UNC CMIH, recorded Nov 17, 2022.
- October 27th, 12 pm ET – Birthing Parent Accounts of Postpartum Acute Care Utilization: Lessons learned for strengthening the system of care, presented by Clara Busse, UNC (not recorded)
- Connecting Spanish Communities in NC Postpartum Care with CityGate Dream Center, CityGate Dream Center, recorded Aug 25, 2022.
- Medicaid and Postpartum Policies, Tina Sherman, Senior Campaign Director for the Maternal Justice Campaign at MomsRising and Velma Villalon Taormina, M.D., M.S.E., Women’s Health Consultant.
- North Carolina Postpartum Care Innovative Clinical Practices, Walidah Karim-Rhoades, Cone Health and Dr. Kelley Massengale, NC Diaper Bank.
- Postpartum Visit Tools & Access, Dr. Patricia D. Suplee PhD, RNC-OB, FAAN, Director of Professional Education and Research at the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium.
- Foundational Concepts in Inclusive Perinatal Care for 2SLGBTQI+ Communities, Bryna Sampley, Doula My Soul.
- Transitions of Care & ACOG AIM Postpartum Discharge Bundle, Dr. Linda Havey.
- Citations: AIM Discharge Bundle Resources
View the “Charting the Course” Meeting Summary here and graphic illustrations:
- Objective: Finding our North Star
- Objective: Establish our Measures
- Objective: Setting the Course
- Objective: Moving Foward
This event was held December 3, 2021, to unite maternal health professionals in NC and establish a course for changing postpartum care in NC. Read details about this meeting.
Learn more about NC MHI work, partners, and view the postpartum toolkit here.
About NC MHI Communities of Practice: The 4th Trimester Project team at UNC-Chapel Hill has support from the HRSA-funded NC Maternal Health Innovation Initiative to collaborate with North Carolina clinics to improve care for postpartum people and their families. The community of practice promotes an increased understanding of best practices for postpartum health and fosters connections among clinicians, researchers, and community-based organizations in North Carolina. These 1-hour virtual meetings will focus on different topics with opportunities for participants to ask questions and share what is working for them. Guest speakers will be arranged to speak to topics of interest.
Recording and Participation Disclaimer: These meetings are recorded. By joining, you agree to our recording and events form. You can submit topic ideas or questions in advance for future CoP events. For more information about presenting, this series, or accessing the event, email SuzanneW@med.unc.edu.
