Maternal mortality prevention

• Determine the annual number of maternal deaths in Colorado.

• Determine whether the death was related to the pregnancy.

• Discuss whether the death could have been prevented and if so, how it could have been prevented.

• Identify trends and factors that might contribute to maternal deaths.

• Develop and put into practice strategies that reduce and stop future deaths.

Capacity-Building Grants for Community-Based Organizations

The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) recently granted the state of Colorado a $5 million grant through the State Maternal Health Innovation & Data Capacity Program. One activity of this grant is to fund community-led solutions to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity. For the first year of funding, CDPHE will award grants of up to $25,000 each for up to ten (10) community-based organizations for capacity-building activities. The organizations selected for funding must demonstrate how these capacity-building funds will be used to enhance the organization's ability to prevent maternal mortality and/or morbidity in Colorado through a focus on internal development rather than external project implementation. Priority will be given to organizations that reach under-invested communities with higher populations of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and/or non-metro areas.  

Eligible entities: Non-profit organizations or organizations pursuing non-profit status, community-based organizations, grassroots organizations, community health and public health organizations. Entities must be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State. 

Click this link to learn more and apply. Applications are due no later than Thursday, December 22nd at 11:59pm.

Maternal Health Task Force 

The Health Resources & Services Administration recently granted the state of Colorado a $5 million grant through the State Maternal Health Innovation & Data Capacity Program. One activity of this grant is to establish the Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF), convened by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative (CPCQC). The task force will consist of up to 50 members dedicated to preventing maternal mortality and morbidity. The taskforce will represent a broad range of diversity and representation across Colorado, professionally, geographically, and demographically. The group will be composed of community members, clinical providers including midwives and doulas, hospitals, insurers/payers, tribes/tribal organizations, researchers, and community-led organizations.  The charge of the task force is to guide the implementation of evidence-informed interventions to address critical gaps in the state provision of maternity care services.

Learn more and apply

MMRC publications

• Maternal Mortality in Colorado, 2014-2016. (Published July 2020)

• Understanding Maternal Deaths in Colorado: An Analysis of Mortality from 2008 to 2013. Authors Bardin, L., Schiffmacher, A., & Ricketts, S., October 2017. (Published October 2017)

• Metz et al. Maternal Deaths From Suicide and Overdose in Colorado, 2004-2012. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2016 Dec,128(6):1233-1240.​ (Published December 2016)

• Summary Report: Findings from the Colorado Maternal Mortality Review Committee: 2008-2013. (Published October 2017)