Maternal Upstream
Management (BUILD 3.0)

Maternal Upstream Management (MUM) is a BUILD Health Challenge 3.0 Awardee fighting negative newborn and maternal rates in the Alief community of Houston through the social determinants of perinatal care experiences. MUM and its partners seek to create an environment in which Alief women can access quality, affordable, and early prenatal care, family planning, and parenting skills.

What factors are essential for effective cross-sector alignment?

Shared Purpose

  • The coalition’s shared focus is about “healthy families, health community [and]…all these factors that are impacting those.”
  • Coalition members looked at data to identify the many risk factors for maternal health and came together to address related issues.

Governance

  • MUM uses a grassroots governance structure to give voice to residents.
  • The coalition hoped to form a guidance council, employing community advocates who identify community leaders and train them to work with the community.

Data

  • In the future, MUM plans for a shared data system to track longitudinal data about a cohort of participants,
  • They lack a current data-sharing process or system, but there are plans to develop a database to track referrals across organizations.

Finance and Sustainability

  • The BUILD Health Challenge provided initial funding of $250,000 with West Houston Medical Center matching.
  • Episcopal Health Foundation is involved in funding the BUILD Health collaborative and through a separate grant to the HOPE Clinic.
  • A local-area bank is the largest funder or sponsor currently.
  • A future focus will be getting matching dollars and donations from wealthy individuals in the community who are connected to the cause.

Integration of Health Equity

  • Means giving each person what they need and avoiding painting everyone with the same brush
  • Identifies focus areas related to the social determinants of health using different data sources. 
  • Strives to care for the individual while being mindful of overall trends

Community Trust and Accountability

  • Builds community trust and participation by having board members listen to community members and respond to them directly

Outcomes Achieved

  • A sense of engagement with the community