Maternal Health Innovation Program
Maternal Health Innovation Program announcements
Maternal Health Innovation Community Conversations Funding Opportunity
The Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) Program is seeking partners across Wisconsin to host one community conversations during June–September 2026 that will focus on maternal health and substance use. The month of May will be used to prepare and attend a required facilitation training for the event. Applicants must be substance use providers serving pregnant and/or postpartum women. The feedback provided will be integrated into the activities of the Maternal Health Strategic Plan and provide the MHI task force valuable insight to guide future planning and activities to impact maternal health in Wisconsin.
- Application Due Date: March 16, 2026, 11:59 p.m.
- Anticipated Project Dates: May 1, 2026 through September 29, 2026.
- Anticipated Annual Award Amount: Organizations will be provided up to $4,000 to host one community conversation.
Program 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.