MaMHA Learning Collaborative

WA Maternal Mental Health Access (MaMHA*): Pregnancy-Associated Deaths Due to Behavioral Health Conditions Learning Collaborative

With the generous support of the Perinatal Unit of the Office of Family and Community Health Improvement, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) , the University of Washington MaMHA program is holding a six-month learning collaborative  to reduce perinatal suicide risk and accidental opioid overdose.  The collaborative supports participants in continuous quality improvement efforts to improve perinatal patient care and reduce pregnancy associated deaths due to behavioral health conditions. The learning collaborative helps to address gaps identified in the WA 2014-2016 Maternal Mortality Review Panel Report.  

*We use the terms women, mother, mom, and maternal for simplicity, but are including all birthing people, as well as transgender and gender non-conforming people

Application period closed 

  • Learning collaborative dates: January 1, 2022 – May 31, 2022
  • Accepting applications: October 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 (or until filled, awarding up to 10)
  • Award of $10,000 to each participating site (Rolling award notifications, no later than December 17, 2021)
  • Q&A Webinar session - recorded October 18, 2021, 8:00-9:00 am Pacific

MaMHA learning collaborative flyer (download pdf)

Who should participate?

  • Washington State ambulatory practices working with prenatal, postpartum and infant pediatric populations 
  • Washington State practices committed to improving perinatal care and reducing suicide risk and accidental opioid overdose in their perinatal patient populations
  • Clinics serving vulnerable and underserved populations
  • Urban, suburban, and rural clinics are encouraged to apply

Participants will leave with tools and resources to

  • Improve care for perinatal patients by reducing suicide risk and accidental opioid overdose
  • Deliver improved clinical interventions and approaches to address gaps in care
  • Direct effective practice change to address pregnancy associated deaths

The collaborative will provide access to

  • UW specialists in perinatal and addiction psychiatry and quality improvement methods
  • Evidence-based strategies to treat perinatal mental health conditions and substance use
  • Feedback and recommendations on clinical practice change to improve patient outcomes
  • A learning community of other WA sites focused on improving perinatal behavioral health care
  • Expert, customized training and support

Learning collaborative content and session leads

  • Ian Bennett MD PhD, Depts of Family Medicine and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington
  • Nadejda Bespalova MD, Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington
  • Ashley Heald, MA, CPHQ, the Aims Center, Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

Learning collaborative structure

  • Pre-launch activities: December 2021
  • Kickoff 60-minute webinar: January 2022
  • Monthly 60-minute webinars on reducing suicide risk and accidental opioid overdose: February - May 2022
  • Final 60-minute webinar session, site presentation on successes and lessons learned: June 2022
  • Monthly report and posting on discussion board of QI/PDSA progress:  January 2022 – June 2022

Expectations of participation sites

  • Identify a core team of up to 4-5 members representing different roles (e.g., leadership and clinicians)
  • Designate one point person to manage team’s participation
  • Create, implement, and measure a plan for reducing suicide risk and accidental opioid overdose
  • Actively participate in the 6-month learning collaborative activities (see above)
  • Participate in 60-minute meet and greet Zoom session in December 2021 for pre-launch work 
  • Complete a short online survey in June 2022 reflecting on your experience and progress toward learning collaborative goals
  • One site designee participate in 60-minute interview in June 2022 on experience (compensated)

Eligibility criteria

  • Washington ambulatory care clinics serving prenatal, postpartum and infant pediatric populations
  • Capacity to manage award activities (i.e., award funds, discussion board postings, brief final report)

Evaluation criteria

  • Capacity to deliver perinatal behavioral health care
  • Commitment to addressing perinatal suicide risk and accidental opioid overdose
  • Experience and commitment to quality improvement 
  • Care delivery to vulnerable and at risk populations
  • Organizational capacity and readiness to implement proposed aims
  • Overall strength and quality of proposed work 

Selection 

Proposals will be reviewed by UW in partnership with DOH.

Questions? Please contact us.