HHS Announces Heartland Forward MOU to Advance Maternal Health

WASHINGTON — May 12, 2026 — The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), by the Office on Women’s Health (OWH), immediately introduced a brand new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Heartland Forward to advance maternal well being outcomes and enhance care for girls and households throughout the United States. This collaboration helps a shared purpose of creating the US the most secure place on the planet to have a child.

Through this partnership, HHS and Heartland Forward will trade info, align methods, and collaborate on evidence-based initiatives to cut back maternal morbidity and mortality and strengthen care throughout the lifespan, together with earlier than, throughout, and after being pregnant.

The collaboration will assist the enlargement of the HHS Perinatal Improvement Collaborative (HHS PIC), a nationwide community of hospitals and healthcare groups working to enhance maternal and toddler well being outcomes by measurable, evidence-based practices. Currently spanning greater than 220 hospitals, the initiative will broaden its attain to handle the complete continuum of maternal and baby well being.

Heartland Forward, a non-profit, describes itself as a coverage think-and-do tank centered on driving financial development and stronger communities, established the Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice (MCH CPP) in 2025. MCH CPP has a acknowledged concentrate on state-led, evidence-based methods to enhance outcomes, significantly in rural and underserved communities, with the purpose of chopping US maternal mortality in half inside 5 years.

As a part of the MOU, HHS and Heartland Forward will:

• Expand the HHS Perinatal Improvement Collaborative to assess care and outcomes throughout the complete maternal and baby well being continuum.
• Leverage hospital networks and knowledge programs to establish pregnancy-related dangers and enhance outcomes.
• Collect and analyze linked knowledge on maternal and toddler morbidity and mortality to inform high quality enchancment efforts.
• Convene nationwide and regional leaders to share greatest practices and advance coverage options.

This collaboration displays HHS’ broader dedication to bettering maternal well being by innovation, partnerships, and evidence-based care. The Trump administration has taken historic steps to strengthen assist for American moms and households, and this collaboration highlights the continued dedication of President Trump and Secretary Kennedy to enhance maternal and toddler well being outcomes nationwide.