News

ThrivingPA is out with an extensive series of new maternal health fact sheets to ensure that mothers and birthing parents are healthy and that their children have the best starts possible.

These first-ever maternal health county fact sheets show each county’s overall perinatal vulnerability index (PVI), based upon data culled across five domains: Behavioral health, environmental context, health care availability, pregnancy and birth outcomes, and social stratification. The fact sheets also highlight data about prenatal care and the percentage of low birth weight births.

Summary of Findings

Pennsylvania Maternal Health Fact Sheet 

• Total Births in 2020: 130,730
• Moderate Access to Care: 13 counties
• Maternity Care Deserts: 6 counties
• Black babies had the lowest birth weight ratio out of any other race

Fact sheets for Trying Together’s 10-county footprint are as follows:

• Allegheny County
• Armstrong County
• Beaver County
• Butler County
• Fayette County
• Greene County
• Indiana County
• Lawrence County
• Washington County
• Westmoreland County

Thriving PA Efforts

Thriving PA supports building a comprehensive and coordinated system of care and supports for Pennsylvania moms and birthing people by:

• Establishing a perinatal psychiatric access pilot program.
• Ensuring every birthing person has access to coverage during pregnancy by
  advocating for CHIP coverage for pregnant immigrants and their babies.
• Collaborating with DHS to expand and ensure the sustainability of the Managed Care
  Home Visiting initiative.
• Monitoring progress toward Medicaid reimbursement for Doula services.
• Supporting campaigns advocating for universal paid leave in PA and a state-earned Income Tax Credit.

Learn More

View all fact sheets broken out by county.