New and Expecting Moms Receive Better Quality of Care for Themselves and their Children Thanks to Health Net Community Partnerships

Date: 07/08/22

The perinatal mental health of women is important for the long-term health of mothers and children. "Perinatal" is the time before and after birth. The healthcare field has made great strides in recognizing that no two people feel perinatal depression the same way. So, there is not a one size fits all approach to their care.

Kristin Schlater is a Program Manager for Health Net's Community Engagement team. She took part in a June event called, Branching Out: Whole Person Perinatal Mental Healthcare Conference 2022. The event talked about current movements in healthcare to be inclusive and culturally aware. Kristin shared resources and programs that support the mental health of new and expecting women. This included:

• Offering Doula Services to Black Mothers: Health Net was the first Medicaid contracted health plan in California to offer free doula services to its members. Data showed c-section births were 50 percent lower in the group that had doulas. This was compared to similar women who did not have doulas.
• Partnering with Cherished Futures for Black Moms & Babies: Health Net's partnership helps increase health equity for Black mothers and children. Together, we help ensure Black women have a seat at the table. Their voices and lived experiences reduce inequities and inform hospital quality improvement plans.
• Cultural Broker Program with Sierra Health Foundation and Black Child Legacy Campaign: This campaign worked to reduce deaths of Black children by 10 to 20 percent in Sacramento County. It provided culturally relevant health care to mothers and infants.
• University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Sacred Birth Study: This study confirms patient reported instances of racism when in the hospital to give birth. This impacts Black birthing communities.

The needs of our members are as diverse as the population itself. Health Net has built teams, models and approaches that break down barriers, improve access and reduce health disparities.