Initiative Status:
Active since 2018

Led By:
Ohio WIC Program

ohio

Ohio

Ensure families have access to adequate breastfeeding services, and experience improved health outcomes, by developing sustainable partnerships across maternal and child health organizations.

Check out what's available to state & local leaders

Initiative Status:
Active since 2018

Led By:
Ohio WIC Program

THE PROBLEM

Quality care is not accessible to all Ohio families

In some areas, quality breastfeeding and healthcare services might not exist. If quality services exist, families might not know about them. If families know about the services, they might not be able to access them at the right time or at all. If families can access the services, they might not experience the same quality of care over time.

These barriers have a large impact on families’ health outcomes, and disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), people with limited income, and rural populations.

THE CAUSES

Why is this happening?

Unestablished Maternal & Child Health Organization Relationships

Unestablished Maternal & Child Health Organization Relationships

Connections between maternal and child health organizations could be developed or strengthened to promote more communication and collaboration.

Not Knowing About Available Support Services

Not Knowing About Available Support Services

Community and clinical organizations offer a wide range of programs and services for families. But not everyone knows about these resources to be able to make appropriate referrals.

THE INITIATIVE

Improve families’ access to care

The Ohio Community Collaboration Project focuses on improving families’ access to adequate breastfeeding services and other evidence-based maternity care practices.

Maternal and child health organizations are provided resources and support for developing sustainable partnerships that work toward improving breastfeeding rates by addressing access to services, continuity of care, and consistent messaging. State and local organizations can benefit from…

State Program Alignment

State Program Alignment

Find alignment opportunities by analyzing state-level policies, programs, and priorities.

Partnerships & Referrals

Partnerships & Referrals

Enhance referral systems by leveraging existing networks and building new connections.

Collaborative Learning

Collaborative Learning

Get expert technical assistance and learn from other communities on how to improve access to care.

STATE PARTNER COORDINATION

What’s Available to State Leaders

Partner Profiles

Gather information about programs, reach, data sources, priority areas, funding opportunities, and local networks.

Local Network Surveys

Survey local networks to understand their needs, priorities, partnerships, successes, and progressive programming.

Landscape Analysis Report

Access a landscape analysis report that compiles statewide partner profiles with recommendations on potential priority, focus area, collaboration, and funding opportunity alignment. This opportunity is also available for regional-level programs and health systems.

Strategic Plan

Develop a statewide strategic plan to maximize breastfeeding support and improve breastfeeding rates through collaborative partnerships and following evidence-based best practices, policies, and procedures. (Starting in 2023).

LOCAL RESOURCES & SUPPORT

What’s Available to Local Leaders

Coffective works alongside local organizations to focus on achieving shared goals related to increasing access to care for the maternal and child health population. The opportunities below are available in your state.

Community Partnership Collaborative

The Community Partnership Collaborative aims to develop sustainable partnerships among the participating organizations and their identified partner organizations – such as WIC, public health, hospital, prenatal clinics, home visiting, community groups, and coalitions that are leading efforts to improve maternal and child health to implement local collaborative community goals.

Coffective provides each organization with technical assistance and $5,000 (in the form of gift cards, incentives, and other Coffective-purchased items) to develop and implement an initiative within their community.

 

Cross-Border Collaborative Activities

Community Partnership Technical Assistance is provided to WIC, hospitals, and other organizations along and across state borders to develop sustainable partnerships, expand networks, and align services.

Sharing & Learning Calls

Coffective works with state leaders to host opportunities for local organizations to learn from and share with others who are doing similar work. This is done with state and regional sharing calls.

  • Regional Sharing Calls are an opportunity to learn, and share lessons learned and resources across states.
  • State Sharing Calls are an opportunity to share lessons learned, identify needs, and resources within states and across similar agencies.

State leaders and Community Partnership Coordinators will share call dates as they are scheduled.

Learn more about the opportunities available to local organizations

LOCAL COORDINATION

Community Partnership Collaborative Projects 2022

Increase Access to WIC Services with Transportation Stipends

  • Delaware County WIC worked to increase access to services through support of transportation costs. To accomplish this, Delaware County WIC provided stipends to WIC participants living in more remote areas of the state with gift cards to cover gas costs to attend in-person clinics or lactation appointments. As a result, nearly 50 families received stipends to cover transportation costs.

Strengthen Referral Processes & Increase WIC Enrollment

  • Erie Huron WIC worked to increase the number of WIC referral enrollment. To accomplish this, they formed a partnership with two local hospitals to integrate WIC certification referrals through daily fax communication to notify WIC of those who have delivered. After receiving the daily faxed information, WIC staff completed daily rounds and bedside visits at the birthing center before discharge to ensure enrollment before the next appointment and to share about WIC services. As a result, they were able to increase WIC referral enrollment.

Expand Prenatal Breastfeeding Education Opportunities

  • Coshocton County WIC worked to increase prenatal breastfeeding education opportunities. To accomplish this, they created a five-week course, with incentives for those who completed the entire course. In addition, Coshocton County WIC provided interested participants with scholarships to attend the educational classes at no cost. As a result, 24 participants gained access to free prenatal education opportunities, knowledge of community support resources increased, and breastfeeding awareness and understanding increased.

Boost Provider Engagement & Community Awareness of WIC

  • Marion County WIC worked to increase provider engagement and community support and awareness of WIC. To accomplish this, Marion County WIC hosted a meeting to present on available WIC services, and surveyed providers for their needs and how the coalition can support them. Marion County WIC also put out a call to action for OhioHealth Marion General’s obstetricians to join the coalition. As a result, they were able to increase understanding and support from the hospital staff, in addition to building relationships to continue to collaborate on innovative projects and/or streamline continuity of care. They were also able to gain three new coalition members from the hospital staff, in addition to four new hospital staff contacts.

  • Multiple WIC agencies worked to increase provider engagement, support, and awareness of WIC. To accomplish this, WIC agencies hosted Lunch N’ Learn events at their local hospital. As a result, the WIC agencies strengthened previous relationships and developed new relationships with hospital staff.

Enhance Continuity of Care & Increase WIC Referrals

  • Johnson County Public Health WIC worked to increase continuity of care with hospitals and increase WIC referrals and enrollment. To accomplish this goal, Johnson County Public Health WIC integrated a WIC referral process into hospitals by receiving referrals from NICU families and encouraging mothers to schedule a WIC appointment immediately to prevent urgent need for WIC upon the infant’s discharge. As a result, they were able to increase the number of WIC referrals and increase continuity of care with hospitals.

Increase Certified Lactation Staff

  • Several WIC agencies worked to increase the number of accessible certified lactation staff. To accomplish this, agencies reached out to people in their organization or through partnerships to find individuals wanting to become certified as a lactation counselor. The Certified Lactation Counselor training course was purchased on behalf of the individuals. As a result, there were over a dozen new Certified Lactation Counselors across the agencies.

TIMELINE

Partnership History

Since 2018, Coffective and the Ohio WIC Program have partnered to support community success across the state. See how our journey has evolved!

2018
2020
2021
2022

2018

2018

Community needs assessed through statewide surveys and reports.

State WIC leaders provided technical assistance on state and local partner coordination.

2020

2020

State partner coordination begins.

Pilot of nine local WIC agencies provided technical assistance on partner coordination.

All organizations given access to Community Match.

Peer sharing webinars conducted.

2021

2021

State partner coordination continues.

Community Partnership Technical Assistance.

Access to Community Match.

2022

2022

State partner coordination continues.

Community Partnership Collaboratives.

Community Partnership Technical Assistance.

Hospital Referral Survey completed.

Milk Depot Toolkit created.

Learn more about Ohio’s initiative

Find out more about the initiatives, tools, and activities available to Ohio maternal and child health organizations.

Contact us