Georgia Launches Maternal Health Vitality Think Tank to Address Systemic Challenges

The Maternal Health Vitality Think Tank (MHVTT) launched in Georgia as a collaborative effort among healthcare providers, public health leaders, researchers, philanthropy, and community-based organizations to address the state's maternal health crisis. Georgia ranks among the bottom 10 states nationally in maternal mortality, prompting this coordinated response to bridge gaps across organizations and sectors. Kristy Klein Davis, President and CEO of the Georgia Health Initiative, emphasized that the think tank isn't about creating another program but connecting existing efforts to build on what's working and collaborate more effectively for lasting statewide impact.

Convened by Georgia Health Initiative, the MHVTT unites cross-sector leaders with a shared vision of a Georgia where every family can experience maternal vitality through healthy pregnancies, safe childbirth, and dignified recovery. The focus on vitality rather than death or near misses represents a commitment to building a state where families thrive, not just survive. Alison Rodden, CEO and Chief Strategist at HCN Global, highlighted the importance of coordinated, culturally responsive maternal health support, noting that bringing diverse perspectives together with strategic communications creates conditions for real systems change.

The MHVTT focuses on three immediate priorities: coordinated trauma-informed care, workforce development, and aligned public and private financing for systems-level change. The think tank's newly launched website, https://MaternalVitalityGa.org, details these strategic aims and serves as a resource hub for research, coordinated strategy, and aligned investments. Partners include numerous organizations working across the maternal health spectrum, from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Black Mamas Matter Alliance to academic institutions like Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine's Center for Maternal Health Equity.

This collaborative approach recognizes maternal health as a systems issue requiring systems-level collaboration, moving beyond isolated programs or single-sector solutions that have hindered sustained improvement. By creating infrastructure to connect existing efforts, the MHVTT aims to strengthen Georgia's maternal health ecosystem through coordinated expertise, approaches, and passion for maternal vitality across the state. The initiative represents a significant step toward addressing Georgia's maternal health challenges through coordinated, cross-sector action rather than fragmented approaches.