Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Population health problems such as maternal mortality rates require multifaceted solutions that align approaches across sectors within and beyond health care. By combining the expertise and resources of multiple agencies—including ones not traditionally involved in public health—governments can more effectively address the many drivers of these complex issues and begin closing outcome gaps between demographic groups. The Pew Charitable Trusts is leading an initiative to develop lasting state-level leadership structures and skills that will launch and support such collaborative multiagency strategies. This presentation will provide an overview of the approach used to select the participating states, including measures of policymaker leadership and state readiness to apply leadership, equity, and cross-sector collaboration concepts, such as participation in data tracking efforts, commitment of resources to multisector solutions, or executive or legislative action. The presentation will also describe planned work to identify and advance evidence-based and innovative strategies—including, for example, changes to professional licensing or implementation of specific clinical interventions—to improve health in communities with disproportionately poor health outcomes. Participating states will focus initially on maternal and infant health. Globally over 300,000 women die each year from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications. Maternal mortality rates have risen in the U.S., and even in states that have started to reverse this trend, significant racial disparities remain. To stem the problem, states need to build strategies that engage multiple agencies and orchestrate and synchronize their work. The lessons gained from their efforts should offer a blueprint for future collaborations around population health.