Cultivating Connections Workshop Overviews

Bridging Care: A Smooth Transition From Homebirth to Hospital Care

Room: Glacier B-D

Presenters:

• Valerie Oliver, CNM, APNP; American College of Nurse Midwives
• Tamara Thompson, CLC, CD, CBE, SM, Co-founder of Maroon Calabash, Newborn Screening Coordinator for Wisconsin Guild of Midwives
• Lucky Tomaszek, LM, CPM; Wisconsin Guild of Midwives

Session Overview: As labor and delivery units are closing around the state, it’s imperative that expectant families are still able to get exceptional care in their communities. Midwives who work outside of hospital systems are capable of providing that care to healthy low-risk birthing people. Licensed midwives and certified nurse midwives work diligently to screen clients throughout the pregnancy to ensure that birth at home or a birth center is a safe option. Even still, urgent and emergent situations can arise that call for a higher level of care than be given in the community setting. In those situations, having a plan in place with a facility that respects both the patient and the provider transferring in makes a stressful, difficult transition smoother and less chaotic for everyone, including the hospital staff! The certified nurse midwives at Aurora Sinai Medical Center have developed a bridge program for families who plan to give birth outside of the hospital, which has facilitated smooth transfers-of-care for more than a decade. This session is led by three midwives: a CNM who currently works at Sinai, a CNM who provides homebirth care, and a licensed midwife who cares for families in their homes or at her birth suite. They will discuss how the program works, and how it improves outcomes for community birth families while also facilitating labor transfers in a way that works for the receiving hospital facility.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe at least three challenges experienced by hospital clinicians, birthing families, and community midwives during an in-labor transfer from homebirth to hospital.

• Explain the impact of these challenges on communication, trust, and clinical outcomes.

• Articulate at least two benefits of implementing a bridge program to support collaboration and continuity of care across settings.

Family Spirit: A Home Visiting Curriculum, Our Work with Precision Home Visiting and Social Support Visit Structure Training

Room: Tundra C-D

Presenters:

• Jennifer Boulley, Lead Trainer Center for Indigenous Health, Family Spirit Program, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Tara Stowbunenko, Director of Training and Implementation, Research Associate, Center for Indigenous Health, Family Spirit Program, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Session Overview: Family Spirit is an evidenced-based home visiting curriculum developed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health with and for the Indigenous population. Workshop participants will gain more knowledge about the Family Spirit suite of curricula, Precision Home Visiting and Social Support Visit Structure training. Precision Home Visiting (PHV) is an evidence-based, tailored approach that identifies specific program elements, or “active ingredients,” which we have found work best for families. Moving beyond “one-size-fits-all,” Precision Home Visiting adapts interventions to family needs and strengths, improving retention, engagement, and effectiveness, particularly in optimizing outcomes for diverse, high-risk populations. Lastly, workshop attendees will be introduced to the Social Support Visit Structure (SSVS) training developed by Family Spirit and based on Phycological First Aid. SSVS was developed to be a supportive tool for paraprofessionals working with families to address crisis situations during a home visit. This training was born out of what Family Spirit heard from the field; home visits that do not contain a lesson were not being counted as actual visits. We know the way health educators respond to a family in crisis is critical in developing and maintaining a trusting relationship with families. Additionally, pivoting to a social support visit helps health educators assess the situation and align visit content with the most helpful intervention available and/or referrals to supportive resources.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the core components of the evidence-based Family Spirit home visiting curriculum and its development in partnership with Indigenous communities.

• Explain how Precision Home Visiting (PHV) identifies and applies key “active ingredients” to tailor interventions, improve engagement, and optimize outcomes for diverse, high-risk families.

• Describe the purpose and practical application of the Social Support Visit Structure (SSVS), including how it supports paraprofessionals in responding effectively to families in crisis during home visits.

Finding Mental Health Resources for Children: A Partnership Approach

Room: Tundra A-B

Presenters:

• Lauren Lotter, CHES, Well Badger Program Manager, Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation
• Elizabeth Olsen, M.Ed., Outreach and Technical Assistance Coordinator, Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation

Session Overview: Families often struggle to find mental health support for their children. The process can feel confusing and stressful for both families and professionals. In this workshop, families and professionals come together to learn how to support children and find resources as partners. Participants start with a short reflection activity focused on shared goals, roles, and trust. This activity helps families and professionals understand one another and build strong partnerships. Participants then explore two free online tools—the Well Badger Resource Center and the Youth Wellness Hub. Through guided examples, participants learn how families and professionals can use these tools in real situations to support informed choice. The workshop ends with a guided discussion where participants share insights, ask questions, and name key takeaways. Together, participants reflect on what helps families feel supported, respected, and confident as they search for help. This workshop welcomes families, caregivers, clinicians, educators, public health and social service staff, community partners, and program leaders. Participants leave with practical tools, shared understanding, and ideas they can use to better support children and families.

Learning Objectives: 

• Describe key strategies for building collaborative partnerships and shared goals among families, caregivers, and professionals.

• Demonstrate how to use the Well Badger Resource Center and Youth Wellness Hub to connect families with health, mental health, developmental, and community resources.

• Apply partnership-based approaches in real-world scenarios to improve family engagement, trust, and professional collaboration.

Powerful Voices for Change: How Strategic Storytelling Can Transform Local Maternal and Child Health

Room: Sandstone Ballroom 9

Presenters:

• Joanna Hagan, MPH, Population Health Fellow, UW-Population Health Institute
• Hannah Huset, RN, BSN, Public Health Nurse, Public Health Madison & Dane County
• Chandra Lewis, C-FSD , Founder, Reimagining Full, Spectrum Doula Services
• Tracey Russell, CD (DONA), Founder/CEO, Russell Family Doula Services

Session Overview: In 2023, Dane County’s Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) team participated in the National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention (NCFRP)’s Strategic Storytelling Learning Collaborative. Our team built capacity to identify storytelling strategies for local social change, and elevate stories as the foundation for enhancing and sustaining community engagement. In this workshop, we discuss how a national strategic storytelling approach and toolkit were adapted to strengthen MCH leadership and practice, recenter community voices and lived experiences in MCH work, and stoke renewed urgency for addressing persistent inequities in local maternal and infant outcomes. We also will explore the power and practice of developing and telling personal ‘anchor’ stories to ground collaborative work. Through examples and lessons learned, participants can expect to identify practical ways to incorporate strategic storytelling as a creative public health strategy in their local MCH work. The FIMR team will also share their innovative approach to partnering with and compensating People with Lived Experience in their program.

Learning Objectives:

• Define key concepts in strategic storytelling, including anchor stories and narrative change.

• Describe how a national strategic storytelling framework was adapted locally to elevate community voices and advance maternal and child health (MCH) equity.

• Develop or outline a personal anchor story and identify at least one practical way to integrate strategic storytelling into their local MCH work.

Practical ‘In-the-Moment’ Strategies to Support Early Relational Health

Room: Tundra E-F

Presenters:

• Kathleen Hipke, PhD (UW Psychiatry & Center for Innovations in Parent-Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health; Assistant Professor)
• Jen Perfetti, MA (UW Psychiatry & Center for Innovations in Parent-Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health; Clinical Counselor & Center Leadership)

Session Overview: Are you interested in strengthening early relationships but sometimes unsure about what to do in the moment to help parents and babies connect in meaningful ways? Whether your role has you meeting families in the clinic, their homes or the community, this experiential workshop will help you explore how to leverage your own relationship with families, in unfolding moments together, to support attunement, connection and mutual enjoyment between parents and their infants (also applicable to toddlers and preschooler age children!). Using video, break out discussion and role play, we will experiment with practical strategies to support moments of dyadic (parent-infant) interaction informed by the field of Infant Mental Health and our own clinical, research and training experience with professionals across multiple service-sectors. Supporting and witnessing moments of shared joy and connection between parents and babies not only contributes to the early relational building blocks critical for healthy infant social-emotional development and mental health but can also support your own sense of joy and effectiveness in your work.

Learning Objectives: 

• Describe how attuned, responsive parent–infant interactions support early relational health and infant social-emotional development.

• Identify and reflect on observable parent–infant interactions to recognize opportunities to strengthen relational health.

• Apply practical, in-the-moment strategies to help parents increase attunement and responsiveness during everyday interactions with their infant or young child.

Public Health Approach to Childhood Obesity: Family Healthy Weight Programs

Room: Sandstone Ballroom 8

Presenters:

• Paula McIntyre RDN CD CDCES, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Chronic Disease Prevention Program Diabetes Specialist
• Rachel Meyer MPH, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Chronic Disease Prevention Program Epidemiologist

Session Overview: Nearly 15 million or 1 in 5 children and youth aged 2-19 years in the US live with obesity. According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, Wisconsin has one of the highest obesity rates among adolescents (6-17 years old) in the Midwest. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend children with overweight and obesity be provided intensive health behavior and lifestyle treatment (IHBLT) like CDC-recognized Family Healthy Weight Programs. Strong evidence proves these programs are effective in improving health behaviors, metabolic markers, and quality of life of participants. Despite this, access to these programs is limited due to low availability, lack of adequate insurance coverage and provider awareness, and weight bias and stigma. The current scope and impact of childhood obesity including national and statewide data such as prevalence, cost, and the health impacts associated with these conditions will be shared, demonstrating the need for safe, effective, and family-centered child obesity treatment programs. In addition, attendees will learn about family healthy weight programs including the family-centered, non-diet curriculum, benefits, and which CDC-recognized programs are readily available for use in clinical or community-based settings. Attendees will also discover where current CDC-recognized family healthy weight programs are offered in Wisconsin and how to refer to them. Lastly, attendees will be provided actionable steps needed to offer a CDC-recognized program within their organization or community. Resources will be provided for workshop participants.

Learning Objectives: 

• Identify Wisconsin populations with the highest rates of childhood overweight and obesity.

• Identify six CDC-recognized Family Healthy Weight Programs ready for implementation in community-based organizations, clinics, and health systems.

• Identify at least two actionable strategies to address childhood obesity within their practice, community, region, or state.

Advancing Maternal and Child Health via Strengths-based Intervention

Room: Tundra C-D

Presenter: 

• Kathryn H. Howell, PhD Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Session Overview: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent and significant societal problem that affects millions of individuals. The onset of IPV is typically during women’s childbearing years, and the risk for IPV is heightened during pregnancy. Prenatal IPV exposure is linked to postpartum mental and physical health complications, infant dysregulation, and disruption to the mother-infant relationship. Given that IPV during pregnancy affects not only women’s health but also the health of their children, it is crucial to develop targeted treatments for this population. Notably, few effective interventions for pregnant women exposed to IPV have been identified. The Pregnant Moms’ Empowerment Program (PMEP) is a brief, prenatal group intervention that was developed to address the unique needs of pregnant, IPV-exposed women. PMEP sessions include content on violence exposure, mental health, perinatal health, infant care, and early parenting. This workshop will provide an overview of the content and structure of PMEP. Findings from the multi-site, randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of PMEP will be discussed. Results will be presented on maternal mental health, IPV exposure, parenting, and the mother-infant relationship. Given that PMEP is brief and low-cost, it could be incorporated into clinical services at community organizations working with violence-exposed families to improve not only the health of women experiencing IPV, but also their children. The workshop will conclude with strategies to disseminate interventions such as PMEP in the broader community.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the unique needs of pregnant people experiencing intimate partner violence through a community-engaged lens.

• Describe the structure and core components of the Pregnant Moms’ Empowerment Program as a community-informed intervention.

• Examine the short- and long-term maternal and child health outcomes associated with prenatal, community-based intervention.

Childcare Incubator Program

Workshop: Sandstone Ballroom 9

Presenter:

• Kathy Doyle, Business and Workforce Director, ADVOCAP
• Tanya Marcoe, Executive Director of ADVOCAP, CPA, CCAP
• Elisabeth Stockton, Business Development Specialist, ADVOCAP

Session Overview: ADVOCAP’s Childcare Incubator Program is a dynamic initiative designed to address the critical shortage of quality childcare in our communities while empowering aspiring childcare providers to launch and sustain successful businesses. Through a comprehensive support model, the program offers participants access to business development training, licensing guidance, mentorship, and startup resources tailored to the unique needs of early childhood care. The incubator not only helps individuals navigate the complex regulatory landscape of childcare but also fosters entrepreneurial growth by connecting them with financial assistance, marketing tools, and peer networks. By removing barriers to entry and promoting high standards of care, ADVOCAP is cultivating a new generation of childcare professionals who are equipped to meet local demand and contribute to economic stability. This program is a cornerstone of ADVOCAP’s broader mission to reduce poverty and strengthen families. It reflects our commitment to innovative, community-driven solutions that create lasting impact for children, parents, and providers alike.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the concept and purpose of a childcare incubator in supporting new providers.

• Identify at least three core services offered through a childcare incubator program (e.g., licensing support, business training, startup resources).

• Describe the role of childcare incubators in expanding equitable community childcare capacity.

Improving Health for Justice-Involved Birthing People through Community-Engaged Research

Room: Tundra A-B

Presenters:

• Jill Denson, PhD, MSW, APSW UW-Madison Prevention Research Center, Director & Core Research Project Co-Investigator
• Harald Kliems, MA, UW-Madison Prevention Research Center, Deputy Director
• Alexa Roscizewski, MA, UW-Madison Prevention Research Center, Health Communications Specialist
• Janice Valenzuela, MPH, UW-Madison Prevention Research Center, Engagement & Translation Specialist

Session Overview: Prisons and jails were not built to meet the women’s health, pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum care needs of incarcerated people. Not much is known about what happens when someone is pregnant or gives birth while incarcerated. The care and support received when someone is pregnant or gives birth while incarcerated can directly impact the health of mothers and babies. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Prevention Research Center is currently working on two community-engaged research projects to fill these gaps and improve the health and wellbeing of incarcerated pregnant and postpartum people, their babies and their families. The Where do the Babies Go? project looks at the experiences of people who have given birth while incarcerated and people who have cared for their babies. Surveys and interviews were conducted to understand how newborn babies are placed with caregivers and how incarcerated mothers might stay involved with the ongoing care of their babies. The Wisconsin Co-Design Doula Project aims to design a doula program for justice-involved people and pilot the program in Wisconsin jails. Doulas, peer support specialists, and people who have been pregnant while they were incarcerated participated in group concept mapping sessions to understand how to provide comprehensive perinatal care for justice-involved people as a first step of this project. Attendees of this session will learn more about these research projects and how community voices have shaped them. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the group concept mapping process firsthand and discuss future directions of the projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify at least three gaps in care and inequities affecting justice-involved pregnant and postpartum people and their infants in Wisconsin

• Outline the key steps of Group Concept Mapping and Co-design processes and explain how each supports community-engaged strategies to address health inequities

Navigating Healthcare Complexities during Pregnancy

Room: Glacier B-D

Presenters:

• Mahua Dey, MD, Physician Mona Iskandar Research Assistant University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Neurological Surgery
• Mona Iskandar, EMT-B Licensure – Undergraduate Student, Research Assistant
• Jack Shireman, PhD Candidate, Dey Labs, UW Madison

Session Overview: Our workshop aims to educate participants on healthcare complexities experienced during pregnancy and the childbearing years. These complexities may include chronic conditions, cancer, and other serious health concerns. Our recent research has focused on cancer care, revealing that women are often not optimally served within these healthcare settings. The goal of this workshop is to equip women with practical skills that support informed decision-making and effective self-advocacy. The workshop will begin with an introduction to our personal experiences with healthcare mishandling, followed by an overview of research findings related to the mistreatment and undermining of obstetric and gynecological concerns among women of childbearing age. Framed through the lenses of pregnancy, fertility, and sexual health, the workshop emphasizes empowering patients to advocate for the quality of life they seek. Participants will then engage in a live poll and guided discussion questions designed to encourage sharing perspectives, asking questions, and providing feedback. Finally, we will distribute informational flyers outlining actionable techniques to support self-advocacy before, during, and after medical appointments when navigating complex health conditions. These materials will be paired with a two-way discussion between presenters and participants, and attendees will be encouraged to take notes on strategies they find most valuable.

Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate pre-visit planning by formulating questions that reflect personal or patient values regarding treatment and quality of life.

• Demonstrate effective communication during a medical visit, including asking questions, interpreting information, and taking notes.

• Apply self-advocacy strategies to address situations where their or their patient’s concerns are minimized by medical practitioners.

• Identify post-visit information and resources needed to make informed decisions and seek clarification.

System Approach to Restoring Family Trust in Early Childhood Programs

Room: Sandstone Ballroom 8

Presenters:

• Sarah Braaten, Ph.D., Quality Improvement Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
• Sharon Gilbert, RN, BSN, Public Health Nurse Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Bureau of Community Health Promotion
• Danielle Weary, Marquette Trinity Fellow, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

Session Overview: State-level systems work to ensure the health and safety of families through various preventive and interventive efforts, including early childhood home visiting and Child Protective Services (CPS). Wisconsin’s Family Foundations Home Visiting (FFHV) Program is a statewide federally funded Maternal, Infant, Early Childhood home visiting (MIECHV) voluntary program designed to provide supportive services, community referrals, and promote optimal child health & wellness. The CPS program provides mandated comprehensive, trauma-informed services to support parents in making necessary changes so children are safe and protected in their homes. Though both programs fall on a spectrum of support, there is a disparity between Black families enrolled in the voluntary, preventative home visiting services and the mandatory, interventive involvement in CPS. Importantly, 78% of FFHV participants racially identify as white; 15% racially identify as Black; and 5% identify as Latinx (Wisconsin DCF, 2024). Research shows child welfare systems have long policed Black, Indigenous, and Latinx families (Jones & Harris, 2022). In the 1960s, social workers removed Black children under the guise of “urban reform,” thinking those parents were not fit. Even today, Black children in Wisconsin are five times more likely than white children to face CPS investigations. That history does not just live in textbooks it lives in homes today. To better understand the cycles of fear and mistrust that keep families away and identify potential solutions, this workshop session will provoke thought partnership among attendees to redesign the system into one that centers care, dignity, and family leadership.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe system-level gaps affecting historically marginalized communities of color in Wisconsin.

• Demonstrate at least two strategies for incorporating family and community perspectives into system-level programs (e.g., home visiting) to enhance connection, representation, and respect for families.

Beyond the Bedside: Systems-Level Change Through Doula Partnerships

Room: Tundra A-B

Presenters:

• Christina Drain, BA, BD(DONA), CLD, BADT C-FSD, CLCE, CCCE Doula Program Manager MHD
• MaryAnne Scherer, CNM, APNP Lead Nurse Midwife Aurora Sinai
• Christina Veling, CPM, CD(DONA), CPD, CPST, CHW, CBS Doula Coordinator
• Stephanie Welsh, CD(DONA), CBS, CPD, BA Doula

Session Overview: Families deserve care that feels connected, supportive, and responsive, not fragmented across systems. This presentation focuses on what it looks like when community-based doulas and hospital teams intentionally work together to support shared clients and strengthen the overall birth experience. Grounded in real-life practice, this session explores how open conversations about care plans, family dynamics, lived experiences, and day-to-day realities can lead to more coordinated and compassionate care. We will discuss how doulas and hospital providers can communicate clearly, respect one another’s roles, and build trust while keeping families at the center of every decision. Participants will hear examples of how mutual learning strengthens collaboration, when hospital staff learn from doulas about culturally rooted, community-based support, and doulas gain insight into clinical systems and hospital workflows. This exchange of knowledge helps reduce gaps in care and creates smoother transitions from pregnancy through birth and into the postpartum period. The session also highlights how wraparound holistic care and how bringing together emotional, informational, and clinical support, can better meet families where they are. Designed for doulas, healthcare providers, advocates, and community leaders, this presentation invites participants to reimagine partnership as shared care, shared responsibility, and shared commitment to healthier, more affirming birth experiences

Learning Objectives: 

• Summarize key findings from surveys and focus groups about what families, doulas, and providers identify as working well and areas for improvement.

• Explain the benefits of mutual education and shared learning among families, doulas, and providers.

• Apply at least two practical strategies to strengthen collaboration and connectedness within local birth care teams.

Data to Action: Moving Maternal Health Recommendations into Practice

Room: Tundra E-F

Presenters:

• Melissa Brockie, Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) Coordinator, WI Department of Health Services (DHS)
• Meg Diedrick, Maternal Health Innovation Epidemiologist and Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Director, DHS
• Felicia Graham-Fairfield, Impact Coordinator, DHS (UW)
• Mary Wienkers, Maternal Mortality Review Program Coordinator, DHS (UW)

Session Overview: The Wisconsin Maternal Mortality Review Team (MMRT) reviews all deaths that occur during or within one year of the end of pregnancy and makes recommendations for each preventable death. The Maternal Health Innovation program works alongside the MMRT and the PRAMS programs to align community innovation such as maternal substance use clinics, group midwifery care models and access to high quality care with data recommendations. This workshop will provide both an explanation of the MMRT and recent data findings and an overview of the prioritization process, which was used to identify with partners what MMRT recommendations should be the focus for maternal health professionals to implement to prevent maternal death and ensure a safe and health pregnancy. Panelist will provide examples of funded projects, alignment and how organizations across the state can align practices with data to support actionable change for pregnant women in WI!

Learning Objectives: 

• Describe the MMRT process and summarize current statewide maternal mortality data.

• Identify at least two strategies from current MHI projects and state-level initiatives that can be applied in their own practice based on prioritized MMRT recommendations.

From the Ground Up: Building a High-Risk Group Prenatal Care Program

Room: Sandstone Ballroom 9

Presenters:

• Emily Blackbourn BSN, RN
• Elizabeth Haucke, Innovation Operations Partner Emplify Health by Gundersen
• Heather Riese, MD FACOG, OBGYN
• Shannon Riley, Program Manager, OBGYN, Healthy Living Center
• Jacquelyn Tock MA, CSAC, LPC, PMH-C

Session Overview: This panel presentation focuses on building a group prenatal care program for high-risk patients with mood and substance use disorders. The program integrates prenatal care with specialized mental health and addiction support, delivered through a new offsite clinic designed to foster peer support and improve access. Key challenges addressed include managing complex scheduling and billing processes essential for multidisciplinary care. The presentation highlights innovative approaches to streamline scheduling and navigate billing to ensure program sustainability. Central to the program is the incorporation of patient education focused on prenatal health, mood disorder management, and substance use recovery. The role of community health workers and recovery coaches is highlighted as vital in bridging clinical care with community resources, providing continuous support, and enhancing patient engagement and adherence to treatment plans. Panelists will share practical insights on interdisciplinary collaboration, program development, and lessons learned from implementation. Attendees will gain actionable knowledge to design and operate group prenatal care programs that meet the unique needs of patients with co-occurring mood and substance use disorders, ultimately improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Learning Objectives: 

• Outline strategies for developing and implementing a group prenatal care program for high-risk patients with mood and substance use disorders, including planning for an offsite clinic.
• Identify solutions to common scheduling and billing challenges in multidisciplinary prenatal care programs for patients with complex behavioral health needs.
• Describe specific ways community health workers and recovery coaches can enhance patient education and engagement, and match each role to corresponding patient needs.

Humanizing Care: Practical Steps for Trauma-Informed Practice

Room: Sandstone Ballroom 8

Presenters: 

• Rachel Charron, MSW, CAPSW, ACC, Teaching Assistant Professor School of Health Sciences and Wellness UW Stevens Point
• Jess Bowers, MSW, CAPSW, Associate Professor and BSW Program Director University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

Session Overview: In health and helping work, connection and communication are our nature—yet patients and providers often feel worlds apart. Clinical language like “noncompliant” or “high-risk” can unintentionally mirror dehumanizing narratives, creating distance and eroding trust. This disconnect harms care quality and perpetuates inequities. This interactive workshop reframes the conversation through Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)—a human-informed, person-centered framework that operationalizes equity. Participants will explore TIC’s core principles—safety, trustworthiness, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural humility—and examine how trauma, both “big T” and “little t,” shapes engagement and outcomes, particularly in maternal and child health. Moving from theory to practice, we’ll provide actionable strategies for integrating TIC into daily encounters, including: Universal Precautions for Trauma Language reframes to replace deficit-based terms Power-sharing techniques to restore agency Cultural humility in action A practical TIC checklist will guide participants in applying these principles consistently. Through a case study and group discussion, attendees will practice operationalizing equity in a real-world scenario, such as supporting rural families navigating prenatal care amid cultural and socioeconomic barriers.

Learning Objectives: 

• Identify at least two ways trauma-informed care reframes traditional clinical language, replacing deficit-based terms (e.g., “noncompliant”) with person-centered alternatives.

• Apply at least two trauma-informed strategies, such as power-sharing techniques, in a rural care case scenario.

Implementing a Cardio OB Clinic: A Model for Integrated Cardiac Care During Pregnancy and Beyond

Room: Tundra C-D

Presenter:

• Jacquelyn Adams, MD – Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
• Leah Matteson, DNP, RN, Clinical Practice Leader, UnityPoint Health Meriter

Session Overview: Cardiac conditions are the leading cause of pregnancy‑related maternal mortality; however, care is often fragmented between cardiology and perinatal services. Multimodality, team‑based models have demonstrated improved perinatal outcomes. Prior to this project, pregnant patients with cardiac conditions receiving care at UW Health navigated two independent systems with separate appointment structures, diagnostic processes, and electronic health records (EHRs). This fragmentation contributed to high no‑show rates, delayed evaluations, and lapses in continuity of care. To address these gaps, the Center for Perinatal Care at UPH Meriter, the UW Health Maternal‑Fetal Medicine division, and the UW Health Cardiology division collaboratively launched the integrated Cardio‑OB Clinic. The clinic’s mission is to deliver unified preconception, prenatal, and postpartum cardiac care within a coordinated multimodality model. The clinic aims to improve cross‑specialty communication, elevate patient experience, strengthen adherence to scheduled visits, and reduce disparities related to cardiovascular disease in pregnancy. These goals are supported by a shared visit model featuring standardized triage workflows, newly developed joint visit types, aligned documentation tools, and coordinated pathways that enable MFM and cardiology providers to comanage patients within a single EHR environment. Early metrics demonstrate strong need and rapid uptake, with 52 active patients, 12 transitioned to longitudinal postpartum cardiology care, and recent clinic utilization averaging 86%. This workshop will outline the Cardio‑OB Clinic implementation framework, including inclusion and exclusion criteria, collaborative workflow design, referral and triage processes, scheduling pathways, and interdisciplinary team structure. Participants will gain practical, replicable strategies to streamline cross‑specialty care, improve access and outcomes, reduce no‑shows, and support seamless transition from pregnancy to ongoing cardiovascular follow‑up.

Learning Objectives: 

• List the core components of an integrated Cardio‑OB clinic, including visit structure, care team roles, referral pathways, and data-tracking strategies

• Apply inclusion and exclusion criteria to determine which pregnant or postpartum patients would benefit from joint cardiology–MFM care

• Analyze a case scenario to demonstrate how interdisciplinary collaboration supports timely interventions, continuity of care, and improved maternal outcomes

Advancing Black Perinatal Health Through Equitable Physical Activity Promotion

Room: Tundra E-F

Presenters:

• Megan Knutson Sinaise, MS, ACSM-CEP, Program Coordinator, UW-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Melissa Neal, PhD, MPH, Postdoctoral Fellow, UW-Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

Session Overview: Black birthing people experience the highest prevalence of Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and leading to increased risk maternal morbidity and mortality. Chronic stress rooted in social and structural inequities, has been identified as a key contributor to HDP among Black birthing people. Across the life course, these inequities can increase unfavorable stress-related behavioral and lifestyle factors, such as dietary and physical activity (PA) patterns, which influence HDP risk and future cardiovascular outcomes. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant and postpartum individuals engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity per week. Evidence suggests that regular PA can reduce the risk of HDP, limit excessive gestational weight gain, and improve psychosocial outcomes such as depression and anxiety. However, research demonstrates that Black birthing people report lower levels of PA both prior to conception and during pregnancy. Despite the availability of clinical guidelines and resources, implementation of physical activity counseling and support in prenatal and postpartum care remains limited. Given the benefits of physical activity and the persistent inequities in pregnancy outcomes, it is critical to examine the multilevel barriers and facilitators to PA within and beyond the healthcare system among Black birthing people. This workshop will center discussion on social drivers of health, stress, and PA during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Participants will also review existing resources and explore strategies clinicians and public health professionals can use to support equitable and culturally responsive physical activity promotion.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify social drivers that influence pregnancy and postpartum outcomes.

• Explain how stress functions as a determinant of maternal and child health.

• Apply ACOG exercise recommendations to case scenarios involving pregnant patients.

Food is Medicine and Connections to Maternal and Child Health

Room: Sandstone Ballroom 9

Presenters:

• Stef Bugasch, MPH, State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program Coordinator, DHS
• Rachel Meyer, MPH, CIC, Chronic Disease Prevention Epidemiologist, DHS
• Kelli Stader, MPH, RD, CLS, Nutrition Coordinator, DHS

Session Overview: In WI, it is estimated that 1 in 3 children ages 0-11 live in households that cannot afford nutritious meals. Being able to access healthy, nutritious food is a foundational part of developing healthy eating habits in children that can support growth and prevent future chronic disease. Food is Medicine (FIM) is an integrated public health and healthcare strategy focused on increasing access to healthy nutritious food for families and is aimed to prevent, manage, and treat chronic disease. As diet related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity drive rising healthcare costs and disability, FIM programs offer evidence-based interventions to address the root causes of poor health. Recently, Wisconsin Medicaid passed a new in lieu of services benefit called medically-tailored meals. This benefit is available for people with high-risk pregnancies and folks hospitalized for diabetes or heart disease. This benefit, and other FIM initiatives, bring together people from across sectors, including health care, public health, and community-based organizations and agriculture. These programs have the ability to impact maternal and family health for communities across Wisconsin. In this session, we will present first on what the FIM movement is, describe the evidence behind these initiatives, current FIM initiatives across the state, and how people can bring these activities to their organizations. We will also discuss the new Medicaid medically-tailored meals benefit and how providers and patients can access it. We will then engage in small group discussions to learn more about implementation of FIM initiatives.

Learning Objectives:

• • Describe the strategies of the Food is Medicine (FIM) movement, including the current Medicaid benefit and access procedures.

  • Identify at least one actionable step their organization can take to support FIM initiatives in the state.

  • Apply FIM strategies to design an implementation approach for their community or organization.

From Listening to Action: Translating Community and Clinical Insights into Improved Maternal Hypertension Care

Room: Tundra A-B

Presenters:

• Micaela Berry-Smith, BS, Associate Director of Community Engagement, UW Prevention Research Center
• Krissy Buchholz Alaniz, PhD, MPH, Clinical Research Manager, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of OBGYN

Session Overview: Maternal hypertension remains a leading contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality in Wisconsin, with persistent racial inequities. This presentation shares findings from a qualitative study that engaged individuals with lived experience of hypertension during pregnancy alongside a diverse group of organizational partners, including clinicians, payers, doulas, and public health professionals. Key themes emerged around gaps in care, communication, trust, and system-level barriers, as well as opportunities to strengthen prevention and management of maternal hypertension. Facilitators will describe how insights from lived experience and community and clinical partners directly informed the adaptation of a remote blood pressure monitoring intervention to better address the needs and priorities of Black birthing people. They will also outline the strategies and frameworks used to engage stakeholders meaningfully, including structured interview and focus group methods, co-creation activities, and other processes designed to foster psychological safety, shared power, and equitable participation across lived experience, community, and clinical partners. These approaches illustrate how qualitative findings can be translated into actionable, practice-informed intervention adaptations, offering concrete examples of translating lived, community, and clinical perspectives into more equitable maternal healthcare solutions.

Learning Objectives:

• List at least three gaps and opportunities in maternal hypertension care and maternal health equity using real-world examples.

• Describe two engagement or facilitation strategies and match each to its intended outcome with stakeholders.

• Develop a brief plan applying one strategy to modify or enhance a maternal health program or practice in their professional setting.

Removing Stigma and Bias When Engaging Pregnant and Postpartum Women and Families

Room: Tundra C-D

Presenter:

Session Overview: The Wisconsin Maternal Health Innovation Task Force completed a maternal health strategic plan for the state in 2025. The plan outlines how maternal mental health and substance use must be significant areas of focus for maternal health providers, supported by statewide maternal mortality data. The negative outcomes, including maternal death, are preventable in cases where mental health and substance use were identified. Wisconsin health professionals, home visitors and community-based workers must come together to address the stigma and bias and support treatment. This workshop will bring together a panel of providers and individuals with lived experience to discuss how support women and address bias. The session will start with a short presentation on the statistics surrounding mental health and substance use during and after pregnancy while bringing together individuals with professional and personal experience to describe how to make meaningful impact in your role. Attendees will leave with examples on how hospital systems to community-based organizations can develop policies, educate staff and connect to resources available in their community to support women.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe key maternal mental health and substance use trends from Wisconsin MMRT and PRAMS data, and demonstrate understanding of barriers through a mock case scenario.

• Determine at least two evidence-based strategies from providers to implement in their own practice, informed by statewide data and lived experiences.

• Identify barriers in their own practice and propose actionable steps to address them through a guided reflective activity.