January 2026 - 2nd Edition |
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Inside this edition:
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NEW Minnesota Maternal Mortality Report 2017-2021
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Last Chance: Nominate a Colleague for the 2025 Kunsche Award
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Supporting Hemorrhage Readiness Using the CMQCC Toolkit
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Save the Date: 2026 Perinatal Improvement Summit
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Amma Parenting: All-Inclusive Pregnancy & Early Infancy Education
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Most Read Reports of 2025 from the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
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NEW Minnesota Maternal Mortality Report 2017-2021 |
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The Minnesota Department of Health recently released the Minnesota Maternal Mortality Report (2017-2021), a comprehensive review of the 162 maternal deaths during pregnancy or within one year after the end of their pregnancy during this period. The report was developed by the Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) to examine maternal mortality trends and provide key recommendations aimed at improving policies, programs, systems, practice guidelines, and health care provider guidelines.
The report identifies the five leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths during this period as:
(1) Mental health conditions (including substance use disorders)
(2) Injury
(3) Infection
(4) Hemorrhage (excluding aneurysms and cerebrovascular accidents)
(5) Cardiomyopathy
Among the report’s findings, Minnesota’s pregnancy-related mortality rate in 2021 was 34.1 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 births, exceeding the national rate of 33.2 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 births. Additionally, the report determined that 95% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable.
MNPQC will use the findings from this report to guide our efforts in improving perinatal health across Minnesota. Through our Quality Improvement programs, community partnerships, and evidence-based strategies, we are committed to implementing key recommendations that reduce barriers to care, improve care quality, and advance health outcomes for families.
We urge you to review the report and apply the recommendations relevant to your work to make a difference in the overall health of Minnesota.
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| Read Full Report |
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Last Chance: Nominate a Colleague for the 2025 Kunsche Award |
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The deadline to submit your nomination for the annual Kunsche Award is near. As a reminder, this award recognizes any individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and made meaningful contributions toward our mission to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across Minnesota. This individual can include, but is not limited to, social workers, healthcare professionals, midwives, doulas, etc. The deadline for submissions is this Saturday, January 31, 2026.
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| Submit Your Nominations Today! |
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Supporting Hemorrhage Readiness Using the CMQCC Toolkit |
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In 2022, the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) released version 3.0 of its Obstetric Hemorrhage Toolkit, building on earlier editions from 2010 and 2015. Obstetric hemorrhage remains one of the leading and largely preventable causes of pregnancy-related death nationwide. This toolkit was shared with hospital teams during this month’s Obstetrical Hemorrhage Community of Learning (COL) Action Period Call. Sharing this toolkit supports hospitals in strengthening hemorrhage readiness, response, and reporting. Continued use of this toolkit, alongside other resources, is an important step toward reducing preventable maternal deaths in Minnesota.
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| Learn More |
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Save the Date: 2026 Perinatal Improvement Summit |
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Save the date for MNPQC’s annual 2026 Perinatal Improvement Summit, taking place on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Minneapolis Marriott West! Request for proposals coming soon!
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| 2026 Perinatal Improvement Summit |
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Amma Parenting: All-Inclusive Pregnancy & Early Infancy Education |
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Amma Parenting is a women-owned pregnancy and early infancy education organization serving families across Minnesota, with locations in Edina, Plymouth, and Roseville, as well as virtual offerings statewide. Amma Parenting supports new and expecting families through evidence-based childbirth education, lactation support, childcare resources, and a wide range of parent education classes. Class pricing typically ranges from $40-$350, depending on the topic, length of the series, and membership status. Whether you’re expecting or navigating life with a new baby, Amma Parenting offers trusted support every step of the way. |
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Most Read Reports of 2025 from the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health |
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Focused on improving mental health during pregnancy and postpartum, the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health helps turn research into meaningful, family-centered policy. In early January, the Policy Center highlighted its most-read reports from 2025, examining key drivers of maternal mental health outcomes nationwide. MNPQC encourages readers to review these reports in light of the Minnesota Department of Health’s recent Maternal Mortality Report (2017-2021), which identified mental health conditions, including substance use disorders, as a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths. These reports offer important context and guidance for advancing maternal mental health efforts in Minnesota and beyond. |
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