Maternal Health Advocacy & Programs

Tennessee has among the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the nation, making maternal health a top priority of Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHA). We are proud to host an annual Rural Maternal Health Summit as well as offer a maternal health track at our annual conference.

Advocacy

RHA supports legislation that advances access to maternal care in rural Tennessee and beyond. View RHA Board Secretary, Dr. Brenda Jones giving testimony to Tennessee's Senate and Labor Commerce Committee on the importance of Doulas on our blog.

Visit our Action Center to learn more about RHA policy priorities related to Maternal Health.

Education

Rural Health Association of Tennessee is leading the way to access to Doulas in rural communities. We are currently supporting 15 Workforce Participants through Doula Training. Trainees are working on certification through the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA), participating in specialized RHA training, including with Dr. Brenda Jones, and being partnered with rural providers and patients.

Rural Health Association of Tennessee will host our 3rd Annual Maternal Health this summer and offer a Maternal Health Track at our Annual Conference in November.

Resources & Partners

RHA has a collection of on-demand webinars, policy briefs, and other resources on our Resource Center. We also recommend exploring resources from our below partners:

• Tennessee Department of Health - Maternal and Child Health
• Rural Health Info Hub - Rural Maternal Health
• March of Dimes - Report on Rural Maternity Care Deserts and Tennessee Report Card
• Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee - Training and Events Calendar

Thank You to our Funders!

Our Rural Doula Network is made possible by the generosity of the below funders:

This service was supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support, under GR-21-73441. The contents of this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of or endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you suspect fraud, waste, or abuse of these program funds, please notify a RHA representative and/or follow instructions linked here.