RICHMOND, VA – On December 17th, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced several new initiatives aimed at improving maternal health outcomes, with a focus on enhancing care for mothers and infants. A key part of these efforts is the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative (VNPC), the state perinatal quality collaborative (PQC) dedicated to advancing perinatal and neonatal care. The VNPC works to: (1) promote collaboration among healthcare organizations, state agencies and community partners, (2) support hospitals in adopting evidence-based practices through implementing AIM patient safety bundles, and (3) promote awareness for maternal and infant health and well-being. 
These initiatives come at a time when the state is working to reduce maternal mortality rates and reduce health disparities in underserved populations. The governor emphasized the importance of teamwork, implementation of AIM patient safety bundles, data, and innovation focused on improving health outcomes for both mothers and babies.
A notable part of the announcement is Executive Directive Eleven, which directs the Virginia Department of Health to enhance the maternal health data dashboard, with a focus on better tracking pregnancy-associated and related mortality. The directive also outlines plans to create a central website where Virginia parents can access l maternal health resources, as well as charging DMAS to form a work group focused on maternal healthcare services, including Medicaid Managed Care Organizations.
Additionally, several budget amendments were proposed to expand perinatal health hubs, maternal health education, and workforce development. One of the largest proposed investments is $2.5 million to establish three new perinatal health hubs in underserved areas, including one in a rural community, an expansion to the current work that Urban Baby Beginnings is doing. Urban Baby Beginnings in partnership with the VNPC was awarded a $7.5 million dollar, Maternal Health State Innovation grant in September 2023 by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This grant has already funded the sustainability and expansion of five hubs across the Commonwealth. Perinatal health hubs are a community based multidisciplinary care model that prioritizes perinatal health outcomes related to a reduction in maternal and infant mortality and morbidity. Hubs deliver a spectrum of comprehensive culturally responsive perinatal support services from trusted community providers. Examples of services that are provided include prenatal care, birthing and postpartum support and services; and may include assisting with the care of the child up until their second birthday. Hubs provide support to the community, perinatal health providers, and hospital systems utilizing a diverse workforce collaborating to improve outcomes via coordinated wraparound care (e.g. care coordinators, doulas, CHWs, peer support specialist, birth workers and other perinatal specialists). These three new hubs will build on the success that both UBB and VNPC have already demonstrated by fostering local collaboration to meet the unique needs of each community.
“We are deeply thankful for the governor’s leadership and this critical investment in maternal and infant health. These funds will allow for the current work of the Hubs to be expanded, reaching even more mothers and babies across Virginia, improving access to high quality care,” said Shannon Pursell, Senior Director of the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative. “By strengthening perinatal health hubs and expanding these efforts to underserved and rural communities, we can ensure that every woman and infant has access to the care they need to thrive.”
The investment underscores Virginia’s commitment to ensuring all mothers and babies have access to high-quality care, regardless of where they live. The VNPC is poised to play a leading role in these efforts, helping to make Virginia a safer place for pregnancy and childbirth. 