Community-centered maternal health improvement
Transdisciplinary and Equitable Approach to Maternal health (TEAM)
This project brings healthcare teams, community leaders, doulas, housing, and social services together to improve pregnancy and postpartum outcomes for Black and low-income birthing people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137767 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your perspective, the center will connect doctors, community leaders, community-based doulas, and housing and social-service providers to offer coordinated supports during pregnancy and after birth. Programs will help people access safe housing, build trusting relationships with caregivers, and improve postpartum follow-up while staff track health and wellbeing. Community members will help design and adapt services so they meet local needs and reduce barriers to care. Findings will be used to inform policy and system changes aimed at reducing racial and socioeconomic disparities in maternal outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant or recently postpartum people—especially Black/African American individuals and those with low income or unstable housing in the Milwaukee area—are ideal candidates for services and participation.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or postpartum, or those living outside the program's geographic reach, are unlikely to receive direct services from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower pregnancy-related complications and deaths and improve recovery and support after birth for Black and low-income people.
How similar studies have performed: Other community-based and doula-led programs have shown promising reductions in adverse outcomes and better patient experience, though integrated transdisciplinary centers that also provide housing and policy advocacy are less common.
Where this research is happening
Milwaukee, United States
- Medical College of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olson, Jessica M — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Olson, Jessica M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.