Maternal and Child Health Resource Repository

A multidisciplinary team at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis successfully separated 2-year-old twin sisters Hiyab and Wuhbto, who were born conjoined at the head, during a complex operation that lasted more than 24 hours in February 2026.

A new blog, part of the Keeping Care Close to Home initiative, discusses how connected care networks are essential to sustaining rural maternal care.

Rural hospitals are developing trusted relationships, infrastructure and networks that connect maternal health clinicians and patients with specialized clinical expertise, workforce support, technology and other resources. Avera Health, Dartmouth Health, Banner Health and Rochester Regional Health demonstrate what connected maternal care networks look like in practice.

A new AHA Market Scan Trailblazers report explores how hospitals and health systems are expanding access to high-quality prenatal and obstetrical care in rural and underserved areas with remote teleultrasound (TUS).

In this conversation, Tori Bahr, M.D., section chief of pediatrics at Gillette Children’s, shares how healthcare teams can improve the transition from pediatric to adult care through early planning, coordinated care teams and a more personalized approach to patient needs.

The Department of Health and Human Services Oct. 9 announced the launch of its Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit Program, which, through partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s CDC Foundation, provides families with a one-time kit of essential newborn postpartum supplies, maternal health items, and information and resources.

This Trailblazers report explores how hospitals and health systems are expanding access to prenatal care in underserved areas with teleultrasound.

In this conversation, Tori Bahr, M.D., section chief of pediatrics at Gillette Children’s, shares how healthcare teams can improve the transition from pediatric to adult care through early planning, coordinated care teams, and a more personalized approach to patient needs.

 A study by the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center found that between 2007 and 2023, the percentage of midwife-attended births rose in both rural and urban settings and was higher in states that had full midwifery practice authority policies. The study, supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Nurse-Midwives. In 2007, 13 states and Washington, D.C., had full practice authority policies.

As part of the AHA’s Opportunities for Innovations in Rural Maternal Care initiative, a recent Commonwealth Fund blog discusses strategies hospitals can use to sustain maternal care within the communities they serve.

The Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau has released the latest data from the National Survey of Children’s Health. The survey provides national and state-level data on children’s physical and mental health, healthcare access and quality, special healthcare needs, adverse childhood experiences and family and community well-being. HRSA also plans to release a data brief featuring survey findings on the health and well-being of children living in rural communities.

Valleywise Health has become the first healthcare organization in Arizona to implement a new technology designed to provide a gentler and more secure way to stabilize umbilical lines in premature and critically ill newborns.

In part three of the AHA’s special Advancing Health podcast series, hear how hospitals are using technology-enabled care and strong regional partnerships to connect rural communities with clinical expertise and expand access to nearby maternal care. Featured in this episode are leaders from Avera Health, Banner Health and Dartmouth Health.

Hear how hospitals are using technology-enabled care and strong regional partnerships to connect rural communities with clinical expertise and expand access to nearby maternal care.

The AHA will host a webinar Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. ET, where behavioral health and pediatrics professionals will learn how two hospitals are engaging young patients in the behavioral healthcare design process, making care across urban and rural communities more accessible, relevant and effective.

The Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded approximately $7 million in grants to seven recipients in the fiscal year 2026 cohort of its Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies Program.

In a new blog by Aisha Syeda, senior program manager at AHA, learn how you can participate in the first Better Health for Mothers and Babies Awareness Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 2.

Every mother and baby deserves the opportunity for a healthy start. Hospitals and health systems help make that possible by providing care throughout pregnancy and childhood, delivering lifesaving services and partnering with communities to help families thrive.From Sept. 28 through Oct. 2, the American Hospital Association will honor Better Health for Mothers and Babies Awareness. The campaign will recognize the people, partnerships and innovations supporting better maternal and child health outcomes. 

Avera Sacred Heart Hospital and Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services have opened the new Park Haven Learning and Recovery Center, an 18-bed residential treatment facility designed specifically for women with substance use disorders, including pregnant women and mothers with dependent children.

A report released Sept. 21 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found improvements in mental health and dietary habits among U.S. high school students.