Maternal Health Innovation Program

Announcements

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Public Health (DPH) announces the availability of funds for the Maternal Health Innovation Evaluation Grant. This funding will support the development and execution of an evaluation plan for the MHI task force and the MHI Innovation grantees. The evaluation will utilize available statewide and grantee-level data to identify and analyze yearly maternal health measures to demonstrate impact.

View the recorded Q&A session to learn more.

Details

Application due date: 6 p.m., September 22, 2025.
Estimated award amount: $50,000 Year 1, $30,000 Year 2-3.
Estimated number of awards: One award.
Total project period: October 1, 2025–September 29, 2028.

Overview

Maternal mortality and morbidity are key indicators of the health status and care received by individuals before, during, and after a pregnancy.

We have room for improvement in overall maternal health outcomes in Wisconsin. The State Maternal Health Innovation Program provides an opportunity to bring together partners to move maternal health forward in the state.

The State Maternal Health Innovation Program will serve as a catalyst to accelerate improvement and identify medical and non-medical causes of maternal mortality and morbidity.

Goals

Goals of this program are to:

Establish a state-focused Maternal Health Task Force to create and implement a strategic plan that aligns statewide efforts and incorporates activities outlined in the state’s most recent state Title V needs assessment.
Improve state-level maternal health data and surveillance.
Promote and execute innovation in maternal health service delivery through addressing critical gaps in direct clinical care, workforce, maternal health data, and partnership and community engagement.
Ensure alignment between maternal and child health program efforts while supporting and elevating statewide and local maternal health efforts.

Major milestones

Grant awarded October 1, 2023.
State Maternal Health Innovation staff hired in February and March 2024.
Held quarterly Maternal Health Innovation Task Force meetings in 2024-2025.
Awarded 1.4 million dollars to 24 organizations across the state to focus on maternal health care, workforce development and community engagement.
702 people served and 183 facilities connected to implement innovative strategies in maternal health programs (between October 1, 2024-April 30, 2025). .

Contact Maternal Health Innovation staff

Contact State Maternal Health Innovation staff at dhsmhi@dhs.wisconsin.gov.