For over a decade, Bootheel Babies & Families has been working with partners throughout the Bootheel to address the issues that contribute to infant mortality and poor maternal health in our region. At our first-ever ELEVATE conference on June 20, 2024, we celebrated the successes we’ve achieved for mothers and babies while examining the latest challenges, collaborating on ideas for solutions, connecting with other professionals, and sharing our expertise.

The conference gathered 74 experts from 43 organizations across 13 Missouri counties, Southern Illinois, and Northern Arkansas. The diversity of participants—ranging from medical professionals to nonprofits to government agencies and more—fostered an incredible cross-sector dialogue on driving real change.

Key Session Insights:

  • Keynote: Explored the intersection of maternal child health, trauma-informed care, and community collaboration. It emphasized the importance of nurturing relationships and cross-system collaboration to create resilient communities of care. By building authentic connections that prioritize empathy and support, we can transform healthcare outcomes.
  • Maternal and Child Health Work Group: Identified both positive and negative trends in maternal and infant health outcomes, highlighting areas needing attention. Their work aims to build consensus for the next phase of collective impact efforts.
  • Doula Care Discussion: Dispelled misconceptions about a doula’s role and highlighted their integration into birthing teams. The session discussed how doulas enhance the birthing experience, address non-clinical family and maternal needs, and support mothers with substance use disorders.
  • Trauma-Informed Care: Participants learned about recognizing trauma and its effects on mothers, infants, and families. The session underscored the effectiveness of a trauma-informed approach in improving population health.

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