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JANUARY 2025

Inside this edition: 

  • LINK Initiative – Open Enrollment for all MN Hospitals!

  • Postpartum Patient Experience Survey

  • Kunsche Award Nominations 

  • Upcoming MNPQC Events

  • Domestic Violence and CDC Resources

ANNOUCEMENTS

Open Enrollment for all MN Hospitals!

The LINK Initiative brings together hospital teams in a collaborative effort to address the interconnected challenges of mental health and substance use disorders in perinatal care. By fostering shared learning and leveraging evidence-based strategies, the initiative aims to enhance screening, care coordination, and referrals for pregnant and postpartum individuals. Participants benefit from a supportive network of peers, quality improvement education, and resources to implement meaningful changes.

Postpartum Patient Experience Survey

We are currently collecting survey responses on Navigating Perinatal Healthcare with Substance Use Disorder in Minnesota. We seek responses from Minnesota residents who have been pregnant in the past 5 years while using drugs or alcohol, though those who did not are also welcome. The anonymous survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete, and participants can receive a $20 gift card. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.

Kunsche Award

This award is presented annually to an exceptional member of the perinatal healthcare community in recognition of their outstanding contributions, dedication, and commitment to advancing the field. For over 20 years, this prestigious award has honored individuals who embody our mission and drive meaningful progress in perinatal care. Deadline 1/31.

EVENTS

Perinatal Resource Mapping Sprint

This three-session sprint will take place over three consecutive weeks, beginning Tuesday, January 28th, from 12 PM to 1 PM (CT). It’s an excellent chance to connect, collaborate, and enhance how we share resources with individuals and communities. Participants will actively engage in hands-on activities, including creating spreadsheets and building a Google MyMaps, with guidance and support from MNPQC experts. This sprint is open to anyone interested, including but not limited to hospitals, community organizations, government agencies, public health professionals, and more.

LINK ECHO Series

As part of our Linking Identification & Navigation for Perinatal Mental Health & Substance Use Care (LINK) Initiative, MNPQC is hosting a free, virtual LINK ECHO Series that kicks off on February 24th. Open to anyone statewide, this monthly series is designed for those passionate about improving care for perinatal mental health conditions (PMHC) and substance use disorders (SUDs).

RESOURCES

Cornerstone

Cornerstone was founded in 1983 to connect women in crisis due to domestic violence with support and safety. Since then, they’ve become a multifaceted nonprofit with accessible, innovative, and comprehensive services for adults and youth of all genders who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence, sexual violence, human trafficking, or crime. 

Hear Her Campaign

Too many people die each year in this country during pregnancy or in the year postpartum. Every death is a tragedy, especially when more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths could be prevented. CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health is committed to healthy pregnancies and deliveries for every person. The Hear Her campaign supports CDC’s efforts to prevent pregnancy-related deaths by sharing potentially life-saving messages about urgent maternal warning signs.

Events

The Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MNPQC) is a network of organizations, healthcare professionals, content experts, and community voices. Copyright © 2025 Minnesota Perinatal Quality Collaborative, All rights reserved. These emails are designed for MNPQC members, past conference participants, community organizations and individuals identified as stakeholders in perinatal healthcare.