New Mexico's Statewide Maternal Health Task Force
Our Mission
The New Mexico Statewide Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) is committed to improving maternal health statewide through community collaboration, policy advocacy, and innovative care frameworks. We work to ensure high-quality, culturally-congruent, and respectful care throughout the perinatal period, centering New Mexican women, parents, and families through forward-thinking solutions and continuous improvement.
Our Activities
Currently, the Maternal Health Task Force is in the strategic planning phase to determine its ultimate goals and outcomes. The work is carried out both as a full task force and within four subcommittees focused on policy, access, workforce, and quality.
ā
The group includes a diverse range of New Mexican community members: birth workers, clinicians, researchers, public health professionals, family advocates, and, of course, mothers.
ā
Full task force meetings are held several times a year (with the schedule being finalized based on group input). Information, updates, and key learnings are shared regularly through the community platform and email newsletter.
New task force members are always welcome, especially if you are a:āā
-
Community health worker
-
Doula or Midwife
-
Clinician
-
Mental health professional
-
Public health advocate
-
Researcher
-
Non-profit professional
-
Parent or community member committed to maternal health in NMā
We would love to have you join us!
Conveners of the Task Force
NMDOH and AASTEC serve as convening partners for the statewide Maternal Health Task Force.
Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center (AASTEC)
AASTEC collaborates with the 27 American Indian Tribes in the Albuquerque Area to provide high quality health research, surveillance and training to improve the quality of life of American Indians.
New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH)
NMDOH is responsible for promoting health and wellness, improving health outcomes, and ensuring safety net services for all residents of New Mexico. The department focuses on public health improvement, disease prevention, and providing essential health services to the community.
Our Task Force Planning Partners
The Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Inc. (AAIHB) is a non-profit organization that has served Native American communities in the Southwest since 1977. It represents and advocates for 27 federally recognized tribes across New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Utah. AAIHB provides public health programs, disease prevention efforts, health education, and access to care to improve the overall health and well-being of Native American populations. These efforts are grounded in culturally competent care that respects traditional values and healing practices.
Project ECHO at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center is a telementoring organization dedicated to disseminating best practice knowledge in rural and underserved areas around the world.
Changing Woman Initiative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization seeking to renew cultural birth knowledge to empower and reclaim indigenous sovereignty of women’s medicine and lifeway teachings to promote reproductive wellness, and healing through holistic approaches and to strengthen bonds to family and community.
The New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force works to āācreate environments in which lactation is the norm and human milk is available to all infants and children.
What are the qualifications to join the task force?
-
āMembership is open to both individuals and groups working on maternal health in the state of NM. It is free to join and participate.
Who oversees the task force?
-
The task force is organized and overseen by a planning committee consisting of representatives from a number of organizations and groups in the state, including NM Department of Health, Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Albuquerque Area Southwest Tribal Epidemiology Center, New Mexico Doula Association, New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force, and Project ECHO.
If I join the task force, will I be paid?
-
No, being part of the task force is a volunteer position. We do offer stipends for meeting attendance. Additional travel support to attend meetings may be available. Let us know your needs when registering for meeting(s). For more specific questions and details, email NM_MaternalHealth@aaihb.org.ā
Contact the Maternal Health Task Force!
If you have questions about the task force, email Carrie Murphy, the task force communications consultant, at caroline.murphy@doh.nm.gov