Communities Transforming Maternal & Child Health
Michigan birthing centers are redefining quality improvement work with the community as their compass, inspiration, and partner.
Supported By:
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Implemented By:
Coffective
In Michigan, while statewide breastfeeding trends are increasing, breastfeeding initiation and duration among Black and Indigenous birthing people remain unchanged for the last five years.1
Black and Indigenous infants in Michigan are 2-3x more likely to die before their first birthday compared to White infants. Birthing person morbidity and mortality rates also show a racial divide.2
The CDC has declared racism a public health threat. Black families have known for generations that implicit bias and structural racism are the root cause of high Black birthing person and infant mortality.
Black and Indigenous families in Michigan are 2x more likely to experience a preterm birth. They are also less likely to access breastfeeding supports like prenatal breastfeeding education or a breast pump after delivery.
Less than 30% of Michigan birthing centers report having a comprehensive feeding policy in place that supports breastfeeding.3
Reducing Breastfeeding Disparities through Training, Accountability and Community Supports (QI-TRACS) is a ground-breaking birthing center collaborative designed to build trust between communities and hospitals and improve implementation of The Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. The initiative targets breastfeeding racial disparities, and improves coordination of timely access to ongoing breastfeeding support and care through a four-part approach.
A Hospital-Community Task Force (HCTF), supported by community organizers and technical assistance experts, is formed in each participating community using a rotating leadership model.
Hospitals implement the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’s evidence-based maternity care practices, informed by community voice, with the support of their peers and the assistance of the collaborative body.
Materials (i.e. brochures and handouts) are exchanged to learn more about services available to families.
Each Hospital-Community Task Force plan maternal and infant care that is responsive to the needs of all families, even during crises.
Rotating leadership is a collaborative leadership style where power is distributed among group members rather than being focused on a single leader.
It is a way for groups that have members from different backgrounds and levels of responsibilities to work together in a place of inclusion, not just representation. Members take turns running meetings, and all members own the agenda. Dual-capacity training prepares members for this unique experience of being both leaders and participants.
Collaborative includes 7 hospitals and their surrounding communities, chosen by combination of competitive and needs-based application processes.
Hospitals are encouraged to enter or continue Baby-Friendly USA’s 4-D Pathway, and may apply participation stipends to any associated fees.
Clinical and community experts provide technical assistance for effective implementation of activities.
Community leaders and families are compensated for their time and contributions.
Community Organizers (COs) develop meaningful relationships to gain understanding of local communities. They educate community members on important issues and mobilize community members to take action. QI-TRACS COs are doulas, lactation supporters, OB surgical technicians, immigration advocates and entrepreneurs. They are all firmly rooted in the communities they represent. Although all seven are Black women, there is a diversity in lived experience, educational attainment, parenthood status, and area of expertise that creates a well-rounded community of practice. The one thing the Community Organizers all have in common is their drive to address inequities in care and disparities in outcomes for birthing parents and infants in their communities. Click to learn more about a few of these change-makers.
This infographic combines a summary of the program with an update on progress and outcomes through Year 2. View the Project Progress Infographic.
Outlines the benchmarks each Hospital-Community Task Force (HCTF) progresses through to ensure that the community’s priorities are addressed and implementation of quality improvement processes is informed by community voice. View the Hospital-Community Task Force Benchmarks.
Find out more about the QI-TRACS collaborative by talking to a project expert.
Ascension Borgess Hospital
Bronson Battle Creek
Bronson Methodist Hospital
Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital
Hutzel Women’s Hospital
McLaren Bay Region Hospital
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