Mississippi Legislative Hearing Spotlights Maternal Health Crisis; MSPQC Advocates for Sustained Quality Improvement and Policy Solutions
Jackson, MS – October 31, 2025 – The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC) yesterday hosted a critical legislative hearing, “Saving Mothers, Saving Families: Mississippi’s Maternal Health Crisis,” to address the state’s persistently high maternal and infant mortality rates. Presiding Chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, Rep. Kabir Karriem, opened the hearing by stressing, “We will listen, learn, and leave with clear steps to save Mississippi mothers.”The Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MSPQC), a program of the Mississippi Public Health Institute (MSPHI), played a key role in the discussion with Senior Program Manager, Monica Stinson, presenting the program’s work in statewide quality improvement efforts.
Perinatal Quality Collaboratives are multidisciplinary teams that identify and address opportunities to improve maternal and infant health.
In her presentation, Stinson outlined the MSPQC’s mission to improve the quality and safety of care for mothers and infants, emphasizing the necessity of a more structured approach to care by collaborating with partners around the state, identifying areas for improvement, taking data-driven action, and creating systems of change.
The MSPQC is driving improvements in maternal and infant health with four key initiatives and one pilot project. From Neuroprotective Care and the Postpartum Discharge Transition Bundle to Quality Care Interactions and Substance Use Disorder support, MSPQC’s programs are helping families thrive before, during, and after birth. The pilot program, “I Gave Birth,” has recently expanded from two to nine participating hospitals, broadening its impact across the state.
The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Patient Safety Bundles have been implemented in birthing hospitals across Mississippi with support from MSPQC since 2015. Developed by national experts, these bundles focus on preventing common maternal complications, including Severe Maternal Hypertension, Obstetric Hemorrhage, heart-related hypertension, and challenges addressed by the Postpartum Discharge Transition Bundle.
Sr. Program Manager, Monica Stinson also acknowledged that respectful care practices are embedded in all of the work to ensure that every birthing person is treated with dignity, compassion, and cultural sensitivity.
Stinson also called attention to a new initiative, the M.O.M. (Mother’s Own Measure) Survey initiative. This project uses a Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM), which is a tool designed to capture real stories and patients’ perspectives about their healthcare experiences including communication, respect, and overall care. The survey isn’t an evaluative tool, but rather a tool to support systematic change.
Stinson concluded her remarks by laying out several vital policy pathways needed to build sustainable systems and save lives in Mississippi:
Support for statewide implementation of AIM Safety Bundles.Invest in quality improvement (QI) infrastructure, including leadership, training, data capacity, and stronger hospital-community linkages.Expand funding for maternal mental health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) care.
“Mississippi continues to have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation,” said Monica Stinson, Senior Program Manager, MSPQC. “We know that most of these deaths are preventable. Our collaborative work with hospitals and statewide partners through initiatives such as the AIM Safety Bundles, has led to signs of statewide progress, but the work is far from finished. By committing to new paths forward, focusing on mental health, and elevating patient voices, we can make care safer and more equitable for every family in Mississippi.”