TECPHI’s Maternal Health Project seeks to engage tribal community members, elders, and leaders in inclusive conversations about maternal health to build strong relationships and support tribal-led efforts to address maternal mortality through culturally responsive approaches.
The project supports existing Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) efforts in Montana and Wyoming and works to formalize partnerships with these groups, with the goal of establishing meaningful Tribal representation on state MMRCs.
In addition, the project aims to identify and assess gaps in maternal health data surveillance and to develop and disseminate current maternal health data to all RMTEC tribes. These efforts are intended to increase awareness and knowledge of maternal health priority issues, including maternal morbidity and mortality.
As part of this work, TECPHI partnered with Allyson Kelley and Associates to develop a grief toolkit for tribal members. The toolkit was informed by findings from two feasibility studies, including surveys of MMRC members and interviews with tribal elders. To ensure cultural accuracy and relevance, feedback on the toolkit was gathered from tribal MMRC members, tribal elders, state MMRC members, and tribal health partners.
