Roadshow Reflections: Strengthening Maternal and Infant Health in Hamilton County
Groundwork Ohio’s Roadshow continued in Hamilton County on October 26, focusing on maternal and infant health, access to essential resources, and efforts to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies. As the Roadshow nears the completion of visits across Ohio’s 33 Senate districts, these conversations continue to highlight challenges families face and opportunities to strengthen the systems supporting them.
The Groundwork team spent the day in Cincinnati, partnering with bi3 to host a community conversation with maternal health advocates, health care providers, and community-based organizations to discuss what it would take for families to feel seen, supported, and connected throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
Building a More Connected Maternal and Infant Health System
During the discussion, community partners described families receiving services from multiple organizations that may not communicate with one another. Mothers often have to repeat their stories, manage numerous appointments, and navigate complicated referral processes. Even when resources are available, accessing them can be overwhelming. Participants emphasized that families need more than lists of services, but rather trusted relationships with a connected network of professionals who can help them bridge from referral to care access.
Community health workers, doulas, home visitors, and peer support specialists were identified as essential to bridging these gaps, but reduced funding, high caseloads, and workforce shortages have made their support increasingly difficult to sustain. Partners described programs receiving more than 100 referrals each month while struggling to maintain adequate staffing.
The discussion highlighted partnerships already taking place in Hamilton County. Organizations such as Cradle Cincinnati, POEM, and Best Point Behavioral Health are helping families connect with maternal mental health services, home visiting, and other resources. Participants emphasized the value of peer support and warm handoffs, particularly for mothers who may not feel ready to seek clinical mental health care. This is especially important when considering concerns raised about mothers who disengage from care after giving birth. As families adjust to caring for newborns, mothers may prioritize their babies’ appointments while delaying their own care, and fear of child welfare involvement can discourage mothers from sharing when they are overwhelmed or need support.
Beyond health care, participants discussed economic challenges that are increasingly straining families across the county. Food deserts, rising utility costs and housing instability, as well as transportation access and child care affordability were echoed throughout the room. Despite being in a more urban community, residents of Hamilton County still experience significant transportation barriers. Participants shared specific case examples, including mothers who are turned away from medical appointments for being late because public busing was running behind.
Throughout the discussion, a consistent concern emerged: families are working hard to care for themselves and their children, but the systems designed to support them are not always accessible or connected. Partners called for stronger coordination, sustained investment in frontline workers, more accessible public benefits, and paid family leave.
Mama Certified: Bringing Mothers’ Voices Into Maternal Health Care
Following the morning discussion, the Groundwork Ohio team traveled to University of Cincinnati's Women's Health Center for a tour and lunch discussion with physicians, Queens Village staff involved in the Queens Corner, and hospital staff supporting Mama Certified. The visit provided an opportunity to see how community partnerships are being integrated into maternal health care and learn how hospitals are working to improve mothers’ experiences.
Mama Certified is an initiative focused on improving maternal health care and birth experiences through transparency, accountability, and partnerships between hospitals and the communities they serve. Through Queens Village Hospital Advisory Boards, Black mothers work alongside hospital leaders to review maternal health data, share experiences, and identify opportunities to improve care. The team intentionally builds space that enables women to participate by compensating them for their participation and offering child care to reduce practical barriers to involvement. The initiative recognizes that lived experience is expertise, and the women's feedback helps inform improvements in hospital policies and practices.
Hospital staff described their efforts to strengthen communication and shared decision-making. One example is a tool allowing mothers to document delivery preferences and understand their options if birth plans change, helping ensure they remain informed and involved in their care. The tour also highlighted Queens Corner, which connects mothers with Queens Village support within UC Health’s prenatal care setting. Queens Village staff help families build relationships, access resources, and receive support beyond their medical appointments.
Participants acknowledged that building partnerships with health systems requires time, trust, staffing, and resources. While participating hospital systems do not pay to participate, dedicated staff time is required to meet program requirements, including required training on the Mama Certified model for all new hospital staff, as well as participation in ongoing leadership and strategy meetings for the program.
Connecting the Conversations
The conversations in Hamilton County highlighted how closely connected maternal health care, family economic security, and community resources are. Families need more than available services. They need trusted relationships, coordinated systems, and policies that make receiving support easier.
As Groundwork Ohio continues its Roadshow across Ohio’s 33 Senate districts, these conversations reinforce the importance of strengthening community partnerships and ensuring mothers and families help shape the systems intended to support them.
Learn More
Explore Groundwork Ohio’s county fact sheets and resources from United Way to learn more about the data behind this Roadshow stop.
