Community-led maternal and birthing health improvement in Allegheny County
Enhancing Maternal and Birthing Outcomes and Reproductive HeAlth through Community Engagement (EMBRACE) Center
This center brings community members and healthcare teams together to improve care and support for people during pregnancy, the postpartum 'fourth trimester', and between pregnancies in Allegheny County.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124645 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of work where researchers, community leaders, and clinicians co-design care that centers lived experience. The Center will pilot integrated postpartum and interconception services while training providers and community advocates in community-centered approaches. Community and training components will share leadership and guide all phases of the work. The aim is to create lasting care methods that improve maternal and reproductive health across the region.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who are pregnant, recently postpartum (the fourth trimester), or planning another pregnancy in Allegheny County who want community-informed care or to help shape local services.
Not a fit: People who live outside the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County area or who are not pregnant, recently postpartum, or planning pregnancy are unlikely to directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce pregnancy-related complications and improve postpartum support and overall maternal well-being in the community.
How similar studies have performed: Community-engaged maternal health programs have shown promise for improving engagement and some outcomes, but this center’s combined, region-wide integration of enhanced postpartum and interconception care is a newer, more comprehensive approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mendez, Dara Daneen — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Mendez, Dara Daneen
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.