Supporting maternal and child health innovation in states - the national academy for state health policy (NASHP) will leverage its longstanding experience and expertise in working with state health…

Supporting maternal and child health innovation in states - the national academy for state health policy (NASHP) will leverage its longstanding experience and expertise in working with state health officials to improve outcomes and reduce disparities for MCH populations. Through the maternal and child health policy innovation program (MCH PIP), NASHP will engage state title V MCH services block grant and medicaid programs, and their partners (e.g., behavioral health, housing, nutrition programs, health plans, families/consumers) to develop, implement, and sustain state-level policy initiatives and innovations focused on social determinants of health (SDOH). NASHP will support states by convening state health officials and key partners to share best practices and align efforts, providing targeted technical assistance (TA), and developing and disseminating in-depth policy resources on SDOH and other emergent MCH policy innovations. Project work will support state health officials in the focus areas of safe and stable housing, affordable and reliable transportation, access to nutritious food through state and federal programs, and other SDOH-related priority policy issues that emerge during the project period. NASHP's approach will accommodate diverse state contexts and priorities, ensure alignment with federal priorities, and engage communities and those with lived experience. During the project period, NASHP will conduct a two-year learning collaborative to convene state leaders and other state partners to share best practices and align efforts in collectively achieving shared SDOH goals. Participating states will receive in-depth TA through annual convenings, webinars, and subject matter experts to support the development, implementation, and sustainability of their shared goals. NASHP will develop and nationally disseminate policy resources (e.g., briefs, blogs, state policy trackers) by conducting comprehensive research and analyses on priority and emerging MCH policy innovations in SDOH. Final LY, NASHP will include a focus on sustainability in all core activities and promote the longevity of SDOH policy initiatives in states through ongong national dissemination mechanisms (e.g., newsletter, social media).