Speaker: Iris Jones, MA, LPC, LCADC, NCC, CCS, PMH-C, Assistant Commissioner, Division of Family Health Services, New Jersey Department of Health

Speaker: Gladys Martinez, LCSW, PMH-C, NCTTP,  ACS Social Work Supervisor, University Hospital

This session will examine practical models for integrating perinatal mental health and substance use screening, treatment, and follow-up into prenatal and postpartum care within FQHC settings. Strategies will highlight strengthening care coordination, reducing stigma, and supporting sustained engagement during the postpartum period. The discussion will highlight systems-level approaches that improve access, continuity, and outcomes for pregnant and postpartum patients and their families.

Training Objectives:

• Identify evidence-informed approaches to integrating perinatal mental health and substance use screening into prenatal and postpartum care workflows.
• Describe strategies to strengthen care coordination, referral pathways, and follow-up during the 4th trimester.
• Apply trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices to reduce stigma and improve engagement in behavioral health care.
• Recognize system-level levers within FQHC settings that can improve access, continuity, and maternal health outcomes.

Speaker: Carol McIntosh, MD, FACOG, OBE, Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. / Medical Director, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium

This session will support community health centers in strengthening care for patients with high-risk pregnancies through coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches across pregnancy and the 4th trimester. Participants will explore practical strategies for risk stratification, referral coordination, shared care planning, and transitions between FQHCs, specialists, and hospital systems, with an emphasis on strengthening collaboration between FQHCs and specialty providers.

Training Objectives:

• Describe key components of effective co-management models for high-risk maternal patients across pregnancy and postpartum period.
• Identify strategies for risk stratification, referral coordination, and shared care planning between FQHCs, obstetric providers, and specialty care partners.
• Apply practical approaches to strengthen care transitions and follow-up during the 4th trimester, particularly for patients with medical, behavioral health, or social complexity.

The goal is to equip health center teams with actionable strategies to enhance care coordination, reduce fragmentation, and improve outcomes for patients with elevated clinical risk.

Speaker: Yvette Highsmith, MA,  Regional Vice-President, Community Health Center, Inc. (Part of the Moses Weitzman Health System)

This training session will highlight the impact and outcomes of a HRSA-Quality Improvement Fund project focused on improving maternal health outcomes using innovations to address social drivers of health.

Training Objectives:

• Differentiate between process and outcome indicators relevant to maternal health in community health center settings.
• Identify HRSA-aligned maternal health measures, including those related to SDOH and HRSN, that can be tracked using existing health center data systems.
• Apply strategies to integrate SDOH/HRSN screening, referral, and follow-up data into maternal health quality improvement initiatives.
• Use maternal health indicators to assess program performance, identify gaps in care, and support continuous quality improvement and reporting requirements

Moderator: Mahako Etta, MPA, Chief of Innovation, New Jersey Maternal & Infant Health Innovation Authority (NJMIHIA)

Panelists: 

• Dr. Pamela Clarke, President and CEO, Newark Community Health Centers, Inc. (NCHC)
• Kathleen Felezzola, Senior Vice President of Nursing, Zufall Health Center
• Dr. Rita V. Knause, Chief Medical Officer and Director of Women’s Health and Family Planning, North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC). 
• Dr. Anisha Roussel, Chief Medical Officer, Osborn Family Health Center

Moderator: Judith L. Francis, EdD, Program Manager, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium

Panelists:

• Brandie Benson, Maternal Child Health Nurse and Program Director, Family Connects NJ
• Peter Bullock, Certified Doula and Founder of Hey Black Dad
• Evana Cooper, Director of Doula Programming, Virtua Health and Director of the South Jersey Doula Alliance
• Kevin Cox, Program Manager of FELLAS Fatherhood Program, Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey 
• Anicia Weelkly-Roman, Community Alignment Specialist, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium

Speaker: Ericka Dickerson, MSW, LSW, Community Alignment Manager, Family Connects NJ, New Jersey Department of Children and Families