A primary goal of I PROMOTE-IL is to establish an Illinois Maternal Health Task Force. The main charge of the Task Force is to develop the Illinois Maternal Health Strategic Plan which serves as a call to action to address the stark inequities in maternal, infant, and family health outcomes in Illinois.
I PROMOTE-IL partnered with the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Office of Women’s Health and Family Services (IDPH OWHFS) to assemble a diverse group of stakeholders to form the Illinois Maternal Health Task Force in March 2020. The Task Force is comprised of over sixty stakeholders from across the state and includes representatives from governmental agencies, non-governmental agencies, community organizations, academia, the state legislature, the state’s maternal mortality review committees, health care entities, and other professional organizations focused on maternal and child health (see the Task Force Partner Organizations and Member List). Dr. Kenya McRae, Illinois Title V Director, and Cindy Mitchell, Central/Southern Illinois Perinatal Center Administrator, serve as co-chairs for the Task Force. Both the Illinois Maternal Health Task Force and Strategic Plan were created in response to requirements of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)/Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) funded State Maternal Health Innovation Program.
The Task Force created a shared vision, mission, and values to guide the strategic planning process.
Vision
Health equity for women, pregnant persons, and families in Illinois, across race, ethnicity, class, geography, immigration status, and ability, where all have what they need to be healthy and reach their full potential.
Mission
To provide leadership in developing statewide strategies to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality and to achieve maternal health equity by eliminating disparities and improving the overall health of women, pregnant persons, and families in Illinois.
Values
The values of the Illinois Maternal Health Task Force reflect our approach to working as a group and in collaboration with stakeholders, communities, and other partners, as the Strategic Plan is designed and implemented: Equity, Collaboration, Quality, Science/Evidence, and Community Empowerment.
Between March-October 2020, the Task Force developed the Illinois Maternal Health Strategic Plan V1 which identified strategic priority areas to be addressed through September 2024. The Strategic Plan is currently in its second iteration. Task Force members volunteer for specific committees, each addressing a priority area of the Strategic Plan:
- Care Coordination and Case Management
- Community Access, Systems Equity and Education
- Root and Structural Causes of Health Inequity
- Maternal Health Data for Action
Each committee meets on its own schedule to accomplish the identified activities listed in the Strategic Plan. Committee co-chairs offer direction and I PROMOTE-IL monitors progress and provides support/resources when available.
How to Get Involved
If you are interested in joining the Illinois Maternal Health Task Force or a Committee, please email ipromote-il@uic.edu with your name, organizational affiliation, and a brief explanation of why you are seeking membership. We understand that diversity of thought and experience in the workforce broadens the scope of knowledge available to make important, informed, and intentional decisions. We welcome you and value your perspective on important issues related to maternal and child health in Illinois!