San Bernardino County Maternal Health Assets & Gaps
To support evidence-based decision making, the Maternal Health Network commissioned an asset and gaps analysis to understand and document the broad landscape of existing maternal health components within the County.
The 2019 Asset and Gaps Analysis report is a summary of data collected within each service sector of the Maternal Health Network. Each sector of the Network has a Strengths and Opportunities Brief, which identifies areas of strength and opportunities for improvement for each individual sector. Common themes were identified across service sectors and compiled to create a summary report for the Network.
This report was used in association with a variety of other data sets (both quantitative and qualitative) to finalize the focus of the Network over a five-year period of time (2020-2025).”
Areas of Exploration
Maternal Health Status
To understand the maternal health status of families in San Bernardino County, maternal health indicators and other data were gathered.
Maternal Health Resources
To understand what supports are available throughout San Bernardino County related to maternal health, resources were mapped according to their type and location.
Systems Issues
To understand systems issues associated with maternal health services, stakeholders were engaged through community gatherings as well as through provider discussions.
Maternal Health Sectors
The following sectors were identified as the most appropriate for providing a lens through which to evaluate the maternal health systems and supports in San Bernardino County.
Birthing supports
Birthing supports comprise individuals and organizations that provide prenatal services such as birthing education and other preparatory activities, as well as a location for and/or assisting in the actual birthing process. Ideal birthing supports help ensure that women have the birth experience of their choosing, by providing safe options grounded in both best practices and current research, as well as based around the mother-to-be’s preferences, medical history, and personal circumstances.
For the purposes of this project, birthing support providers encompass baby-friendly hospitals, hospitals with labor and delivery, birthing centers, midwives, and doulas.
Behavioral Health & Substance Abuse Prevention, Intervention and Treatment
Maternal behavioral health and substance misuse are two factors that have the potential not only to negatively impact the mother and developing child during pregnancy, but to have long-term and long-lasting negative consequences for the emotional and physical health of both mother and child. With internal and external stigmas attached to the disclosure of either a behavioral health or substance misuse issue, finding ways to provide mothers with the help they need to overcome these barriers to a successful pregnancy can be challenging.
For the purposes of this project, behavioral health providers encompass counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health support groups. Substance use intervention providers comprise “alcohol and other drug” (AOD) counselors, general counseling services, medication assisted treatment (MAT) programs, substance abuse intervention services, and substance abuse support groups.
Prenatal & Postpartum Wellness
Perinatal and post-partum maternal wellness is focused on supporting a high overall quality of life for pregnant or planning to become pregnant women. Providing women with the most up-to-date research and best practices in exercise, nutrition, medicine, family planning, and birthing supports can help ensure a healthy lifestyle for women and their families before, during, and after pregnancy. This is best facilitated by a seamless continuum of care that delivers similar, reinforcing information to women via multiple resources at all stages of their pregnancy.
For the purposes of this project, wellness facilitators encompass birth preparation, education, and advocacy groups; breastfeeding supports and lactation consultants; counseling services; family resource centers/support services; federally qualified health centers; help-and hot-lines; home visiting programs; lactation consultants; support groups; and WIC services.
Primary Care & Oral Health
While all women face a baseline set of challenges before, during, and after pregnancy, specific issues faced by marginalized groups may be exacerbated by pregnancy. Living in a high poverty area; experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, or intimate partner abuse; and/or being undocumented are extreme difficulties in and of themselves. Additionally, being a woman of color or a teen can carry its own set of challenges. Navigating one, or more, of these while pregnant requires access to special resources to support the delivery of a healthy baby and well-being of the mother.
For the purposes of this project, priority populations included women of color, teens, women who are undocumented immigrants, women who are victims of domestic violence, and women who are incarcerated.
Summary of Situation Facing Families in San Bernardino County
The following information represents cross-cutting assets and gaps identified by representatives from each sector of the Maternal Health Network.
Maternal Health Status
Maternal Health Resources
Systems Issues
Maternal Health Status
Data was collected to understand the maternal health status of families in San Bernardino County. It is important to note that where the County as a whole may be doing well, sub-populations can be suffering from negative health outcomes.
Maternal Health Resources
San Bernardino County is host to a variety of resources to support families within the maternal health system. Resources were identified and mapped according to their service sector and location. An interactive map of these resources can be accessed on the Resources tab of this website.
Maternal Health System
Conclusions
A number of consistently identified themes emerged from an analysis of all of the assets and gaps explored within the maternal health system serving San Bernardino County. These critical issues have been identified as the most pressing problems that should be addressed by the Network.
Equity
Ensure there will be equity in experiences and outcomes amongst African American/Black families engaged in the maternal health system as compared to other groups.
Early Identification of Risk
Increase early screenings and connection to care for families with high risk pregnancies and ensure they know about and engage in healthy habits before, during and directly following pregnancy.
Access to Community Resources
Improve coordination of care and cross collaboration between sector providers and county coalitions so that families will know about and will be able to access services that meet their full range of needs.
Data Sufficiency
Increase reliable, timely and comprehensive data collection efforts across the maternal health network to drive quality improvement and decision making.
Provider Capacity
Equip the Maternal Health Network with a sufficient workforce to meet community needs in a culturally competent fashion.