JHF Convenes Maternal Health Innovation Grant Advisory Board

The Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) is serving as the fiscal agent for the PA Department of Human Services, charged with helping to allocate over $9 million in federal COVID funding intended for maternal and infant health. JHF recently established the Maternal Health Innovation Grant Advisory Board, a group of 18 experts and practitioners across Pennsylvania working in maternal health, social work, policy, midwifery, public health, minority health, and grantmaking. The advisory board is tasked with reviewing applications and making funding decisions for the $5 million Maternal Care Innovation RFP as a part of this multi-year contract.

Proposals are now being accepted for innovative maternal care programs to advance maternal health outcomes toward the goal of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity and supporting new families in Pennsylvania. Grants can be used to fund infrastructure, information technology, staffing, services, materials, and other investments that promise to benefit pregnant people and/or new families.

Co-chairs of the advisory board are Sindhu K. Srinivas, MD, MSCE, a practicing physician, vice Chair for Quality and Safety, Department OBGYN, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Doris Carson Wilson, president and CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania.

The Maternal Health Innovation Grant Advisory Board includes:

• Amanda Flicker, MD, PA Section of ACOG, Chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Obstetrics, Lehigh Valley Health Network
• Elissa Concini, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS, Quality and Safety RN for OB/GYN, Geisinger
• Maria Kolcharno, LSW, Director of Addiction Services (Healthy MOMS), The Wright Center for Community Health
• Sara Goulet, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
• Sindhu K. Srinivas, MD, MSCE, Vice Chair for Quality and Safety, Department OB/GYN, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine
• Joanne Craig, MS, Chief Impact Officer, Foundation for Delaware County
• Marcellas Taylor, Director for Health Equity, Partnership for Better Health
• Anne Marie Healy, Executive Director, Philadelphia Health Partnership
• Aasta D. Mehta, MD, MPP, Medical Officer of Women's Health, Department of Public Health, City of Philadelphia
• Melissa Patti, MSW, LCSW, Director, Maternal Infant Health, March of Dimes, PA Philadelphia Market
• Kenya Boswell, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs, Highmark Foundation
• Jessica Ruffin, Deputy Director, Office of Equity and Engagement, Allegheny County Department of Human Services
• Dannai Wilson, Deputy Director, Community and Family Health, Allegheny County Department of Human Services
• Rosamaria Costello, Founder and Executive Director, Latino Community Center
• Emily McGahey, DM, MSN, CNM, FACNM, Clinical Director, Midwife Center of Pittsburgh
• Janet Catov, PhD, MS, Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation
• Harold Miller, President & CEO, Center for Health Quality and Payment Reform

A conflict-of-interest recusal model will be employed during this process. A potential applicant for this funding may still serve on the review committee provided that they acknowledge any potential conflict of interest and recuse themselves from reviewing any relevant proposal(s).

JHF staff is responsible for gathering applications for the advisory board's review and providing eligibility checks to ensure the application meets funding criteria, ensuring that funding is available to support the request, and facilitating any requests for additional information from the applicant.

The committee will convene every two months to review and rank proposals. The first eligibility review for the Maternal Health Innovation Grant will begin in June with the advisory board convening in late July or early August.

Proposals are being accepted on a rolling basis with up to 10 proposals being reviewed per cycle for Maternal Care Innovation grants ranging between $15,000 - $100,000. JHF began its RFP in April and will continue to consider applications under this RFP through April 30, 2024 or until funding is fully expended. More details and application available here.