The National Academies will organize and conduct two public webinars to explore strategies for improving maternal and infant health in rural areas of the United States. The webinars will highlight evidence-informed solutions for diagnosis and care spanning the period before pregnancy, throughout prenatal and perinatal care, and during the postpartum and early infancy stages, with attention to system capacity, access to services, policy approaches, and the community conditions that influence health outcomes in rural settings.

Participants will discuss actions and strategies related to supporting individuals and families in maternal and infant health in rural communities, such as:

• Strengthening rural systems of care to improve access, quality, and coordination across care settings;
• Expanding and sustaining the health care workforce needed to deliver high-quality services in rural communities;
• Enhancing access to clinical and diagnostic expertise, including specialty consultation and referral networks;
• Improving care coordination, coverage stability, and navigation supports to promote timely and continuous access to services; and
• Leveraging federal and state policy and financing mechanisms to implement and sustain effective, evidence-based programs.