About Us
Who We Are
We are community members, parents, educators, representatives from both local and state public health agencies, and health care workers including physicians, nurses, community health workers, doulas, lactation consultants, mental health professionals, social workers, and many others. Our Regional Perinatal Quality Collaborative, aka "Region 8" or "SWMPQIC", is one of Michigan's prosperity regions, which includes Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties. We operate with the support and guidance of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and consultants from Michigan Public Health Institute.
Our "Why"
…because even now, there are STILL disparities in our communities that are disproportionally affecting birthing people and babies of color, folks who are low income, and folks who live in certain zip codes. In Region 8, the infant mortality rate for Black infants is almost twice the rate of their white, non-Hispanic counterparts. Infant mortality rate based on insurance coverage for those with private insurance, vs. those with Medicaid is almost equally as troubling. Maternal mortality rates follow this trend also. Between 2015-2019, Black birthing people experienced 1.6 times greater mortality rates than White birthing people in Region 8.
Many of these disparities are the result of systemic and structural racism, with broad, multi-faceted, upstream roots. This is simply unacceptable to us. Through our work, we strive to ensure that ALL families have access to resources, information, connections, and effective and appropriate care in order to keep themselves and their babies healthy.
To get a full scope of the issues facing birthing people and babies in Region 8, please see the 2024 Region 8 Needs Assessment and Recommendations report and a full data report compiled by the MDHHS Epidemiology team, by clicking the boxes below.
Meet The Team
The “SWMPQIC Team” is made up of ALL of our partners; including birthing hospitals, health departments, community based organizations, MDHHS, and families and communities throughout Southwest Michigan.
Here are some of the folks that are working “behind the scenes” to make sure the work continues to move forward on a daily and monthly basis. The SWMPQIC Steering Committee meets monthly, and is responsible for the steering the course of the work to reflect and address needs throughout the Region. This group plans (and debriefs) the Quarterly Collaborative Meetings, and works to create avenues so all voices can be heard at the table. The SWMPQIC Leadership Team (in close collaboration with MPHI staff) manages the day to day operations of the group, including budget management, reporting to MDHHS, website and social media management, connections to birthing hospitals, etc. SWMPQIC has been intentional about striving to making sure that there is representation from all counties and sectors in its Steering Committee and Leadership teams. If you have questions or are interested in joining the Steering Committee or Leadership Team, please email adequain@mphi.org
*Many other team members are not pictured