Maternal Health Innovation

The Maternal Health Innovation Program operates in coordination with the Prevention of Maternal Violent Deaths and Maternal Mortality Review programs to address factors contributing to poor pregnancy outcomes in Tennessee and to facilitate state system changes to improve the health of women before, during, and after pregnancy.

About Maternal Health Innovation

Tennessee is one of eighteen states to receive the Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) grant from the Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The purpose of the Maternal Health Innovation program is to implement state-specific actions to address disparities in maternal health and improve maternal health outcomes in Tennessee.

The goals of the Maternal Health Innovation program are to:

  • Establish Tennessee Maternal Health Advisory Group to implement a statewide maternal health Strategic Plan.
  • Improve Tennessee maternal health data and surveillance.
  • Promote and execute innovation in maternal health service delivery.

To learn more about our Maternal Health programs, click the links below: 

 Contact Us

For more information about the Maternal Health Innovation program, please reach out to the program by clicking the button below. We look forward to hearing from you!

Get Involved

Webinar : New Maternal Legislation Webinar

Beginning July 1, 2025, two new laws go into effect that impact the provision of maternal health services in Tennessee. Tennessee law i.e., 2025 Public Chapter 0099(PDF) requires that all hospitals and birthing centers that provide labor and delivery services shall provide a mother and, if possible, the mother’s caregiver or at least one (1) of the mother’s family members, information about post-birth warning signs, including symptoms and available resources, prior to discharge following a birth. It also requires that the Department of Health provide information about post-birth warning signs, including symptoms and available resources, to all hospitals and birthing centers and have the information available on the department’s website. Tennessee law i.e., 2025 Public Chapter 0046(PDF) amends the current law regarding blood testing during pregnancy by adding hepatitis C to standard serologic tests during pregnancy and increasing the frequency of syphilis testing during pregnancy. We invite you to a maternal health webinar focused on these two important maternal health laws.

Webinar: TennCare’s BP Cuff Benefit: What Clinicians and Patients Need to Know

TennCare now covers home blood pressure cuffs for patients during pregnancy and postpartum. Learn the importance of BP monitoring and how you can help connect patients to this important resource. Tennessee Department of Health and TennCare hosted a joint webinar to highlight this important new benefit for TennCare members. Jamye H. Wille, Ed.D, LMSW, shared her lived experience regarding the importance of blood pressure monitoring during her pregnancy. Hannah Dudney, MD, FACOG, Associate Medical Director of Women’s Health, Tennessee Department of Health, discussed the impact of hypertension in pregnancy in Tennessee and the role of home blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy. Jona Bandyopadhyay, MD, MPH, FACOG, Deputy CMO, Division of TennCare, reviewed TennCare’s coverage of blood pressure cuffs for pregnant and postpartum individuals and explain how clinicians can obtain BP cuffs for their patients. 

In response to Tennessee's rising rate of maternal mortality, the Maternal Health Task Force was established to engage partners statewide to identify and address issues and find opportunities to improve maternal health.

Navigate to the Maternal Health Task Force page to learn more and apply.

Procurement opportunities

Maternal Health Stories

The Maternal Health Stories project is an initiative by the Maternal Health Innovation (MHI) Program to raise awareness of critical early warning signs and preventable conditions that affect maternal health. MHI is collecting personal stories from Tennesseans to highlight pregnancy and birth experiences, challenges during pregnancy and the postpartum period, support and caregiver experiences, and to promote advocacy and empowerment.  

Maternal Health Task Force

The Tennessee Maternal Health Task Force (MHTF) is a statewide initiative funded by the Maternal Health Innovation Grant through a contract with HRSA. Its mission is to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for mothers and families across Tennessee. Guided by the TN Maternal Health Strategic Plan, the Task Force fosters cross-sector collaboration, connects partners statewide, and advances TN legislative efforts that strengthen care and support for pregnant and postpartum women and families across the state. 

Get Involved

Become a member by clicking this membership link to fill out the sign-up form.

Meetings & Events

Save the calendar link for the reoccurring Subcommittee monthly meeting, as they will not change.

MHTF Resources

Reports & Strategic Plans

Click this link for the Maternal Health Strategic Plan

Communications

For active MHTF members, click this link to access all current documents, meeting agendas, notes, and more.

For questions and feedback about the Maternal Health Task Force, please send an email to MHI.Health@tn.gov

 Family Planning and Pregnancy Resources

Family Planning – Clinical services available at all local health departments across the state. Services include checkups for men and women, reproductive life planning, etc. Fee based on sliding scale.

March of Dimes- Get resources for every stage of pregnancy, before, during, and after.

Pregnancy- U.S. Office of Women’s Health- Get answers to your pregnancy questions. Learn about before, during, and after pregnancy care.

Pregnancy Rights- Know your rights regarding pregnancy discrimination.

Perinatal Hepatitis B

Housing Assistance

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Assists low-income households with heating and cooling bills.

Housing Choice Voucher- Rental assistance program

Food Assistance

Tennessee WIC- Tennessee supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children

Tennessee SNAP – Apply for food and cash assistance.

Summer Food Service Program – meal assistance for children beginning when school closes for the summer and ending when school opens for the fall term.

General Assistance

Tennessee Community Service Help Line

Childcare Vouchers- childcare payment assistance program

Domestic Violence Shelters or Rape Crisis Centers- Find help in your area for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Prenatal Presumptive Eligibility- Medicaid covers prenatal health care throughout pregnancy, delivery, and up to 1 year after delivery. For those pregnant who do not meet Prenatal PE eligibility requirements, the county health department can assist with a CoverKids Pregnant Woman coverage.  The eligibility criteria are less strict, but the coverage period is only the date of application through 60 days post-partum.

 Breastfeeding Support

Breastfeeding- Includes Resources and support for breastfeeding mothers, 855-4BF-MOMS (855-423-6667)- provides 24/7 support and information for breastfeeding and infant feeding,  Know your rights regarding breastfeeding discrimination

Insurance Covered Breast-pump Order Form

Substance Use Support

Find Help Now - real-time substance use treatment location database.

Growing Inside Free of Tobacco and Smoking (GIFTS)

Nurses for Newborns - in home visitation program to provide mothers and infants with healthcare, education, and support.

TN Redline 800-889-9789 provides accurate, up-to-date alcohol, drug, problem gambling, and other addiction information and referrals to all citizens of Tennessee at their request.

Post Partum Depression and Mental Health Support

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) – 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy

TN Redline

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) TN – Education programs and support groups for people living with serious mental health issues and their families.

Postpartum Depression FAQ

Postpartum Support International- promotes awareness, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues in childbearing.

Parenting Resources

General

Kids Central TN – Resources database for families and caregivers to learn about popular parenting topics, track important child milestones, and access vital resources.

Children’s Mental Health- Mental health services and supports for young people and their families.

Community Health Access and Navigation in Tennessee (CHANT) – Care coordination of medical and social service needs for families through local health departments.

Tennessee Child Care Resources and Referral- Resources for families of young children

Tennessee Voices- Statewide mental health support, referrals, and advocacy for families

Health and Safety

Infant Safe Sleep- Reference for best sleep practices for infants

Newborn Screening- Designed to keep screen infants shortly after birth for treatable conditions.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)- program to help families reduce the risk of losing babies to SIDS.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) – support and services for infants exposed to substances during pregnancy.

Child Lead Poisoning Prevention- promotes the prevention of lead poisoning in children and links lead-poisoned children from birth through 6 years (72 months) of age to recommended services.

Urgent Maternal Warning Signs

In 2025, a new Tennessee law requires the Tennessee Department of Health to provide Tennessee mothers with information about post-birth warning signs.  

Post-birth warning signs, also known as urgent maternal warning signs, are signs and symptoms that may indicate a life-threatening condition during pregnancy and postpartum, up to one year after delivery.  It is important for all pregnant and postpartum women, their families, and all healthcare providers to be aware of the urgent maternal warning signs.

If you have any of the urgent maternal warning signs or symptoms during or after pregnancy, contact your health care provider and get help right away. If you can’t reach your provider, go to the emergency room or call 911. Always remember to say that you’re pregnant or have been pregnant within the last year when getting help. 

Additional Resources

This Page Last Updated: April 27, 2026 at 6:14 PM