Utilizing Maternal Health Innovation grant funds from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), MSPHI is leading initiatives to address gaps in maternal care, improve data usage for better service delivery, and implement knowledge and recommendations into practice in Mississippi.

The Mississippi MILC League stands for Making an Impact in the Lactation Community. We offer free peer support groups for new and expectant mothers virtually or in-person in communities throughout Mississippi. Support groups are facilitated by certified lactation professionals, with most leagues meeting weekly. The MILC League is supported by the Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition.

Contact Info: Eliana Glass – eglass@msphi.org

The Mississippi Perinatal Quality Collaborative (MSPQC) is a statewide partnership with the primary objective of enhancing birth outcomes in Mississippi through evidence-based quality improvement initiatives at both the hospital and community levels. MSPQC adopts a data-driven, collaborative approach, focusing on specific factors influencing maternal and neonatal health. Participating members are actively involved in selecting projects aimed at developing, disseminating, and successfully implementing best practices across all clinical and community settings that cater to the needs of mothers and infants. Serving as a strategic leader, accessible resource, and unifying organization, MSPQC strives to guide statewide quality improvement efforts, drawing inspiration from successful Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (PQCs) with established and proven practices.

Monica Stinson, MS, CHES – mstinson@msphi.org

SHEA is a five-year grant funded project through REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that focuses on reducing health disparities and rates of chronic illness in African American women of childbearing ages in Jackson, Harrison, and Hancock Counties. We have 3 focus areas that include nutrition, tobacco free living, and community clinical linkages. Our community-centered communications campaign entitled, SHEA (Sharing Health, Education and Awareness) is focused on reducing health disparities and rates of chronic disease among Black women, babies, and families in Jackson, Hancock, and Harrison Counties. 

Contact info: Program Manager: Shakeizia “Kezi” Jones, CHES, MPH, kjones@msphi.org

Mississippi breastfeeding rates are almost the lowest in the country. As part of our mission to improve the health of Mississippians throughout the state, the Mississippi Breastfeeding Coalition wants to support mothers, promoting breastfeeding practices in business and early childhood education centers and clinical-community linkages that serve as a means of referral for needed services. Some of the outcomes expected are to develop a sustainable system for continuing education for lactation professionals in Mississippi, to establish a sustainable system for the provision of breastfeeding support for low-income families, and to establish a community of practice to support the sustainability of breastfeeding support groups to improve breastfeeding rates in Mississippi by offering access to equitable lactation support statewide.

Contact Info: Eliana Glass – eglass@msphi.org

Program Overview – Through this project, MSPHI has partnered with Amerigroup to provide continuing education to healthcare professionals on health literacy.  Topics include:  Building Health Literacy into Your Community Programs, Building Health Literate Interprofessional Teams, Health Literate LGBTQ+ Care, and Designing Accessible Educational Materials.  Education is provided through an asynchronous learning platform that providers can complete at their own pace and earn up to 11 hours of CME credit.

This project allows providers to better understand barriers related to health literacy that influence patient engagement.  It is estimated that only 12 % of Americans have proficient health literacy skills.  Thus, many are unable to navigate through the current health system or effectively engage in discussions about medical care.

Thus far, healthcare providers have completed 35 modules through this project and evaluations have been positive.  Those who have completed modules report understanding the connection between health outcomes and health literacy and have identified ways to improve patient interaction.

Contact Info:  Jacinda Roach – jroach@msphi.org

MSPHI in partnership with the Office of Tobacco Control provides training, technical assistance and merchant education training and materials for the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalitions (MTFCs). The MTFCs are community-based coalitions that work to educate municipalities and schools regarding smoke-free air, prevent the initiation of tobacco use among youth, reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, promote cessation services, and eliminate tobacco-related disparities.

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded Mississippi State University Extension $5.5 million as one of 15 High Obesity Program (HOP) grantees. Mississippi HOP, locally referred to as AIM for CHangE, currently serves 9 of 12 Mississippi counties with an adult obesity rate of 40% or greater: Sharkey, Washington, Issaquena, Sunflower, Humphreys, Holmes, Quitman, Leflore, and Noxubee. We work with local stakeholders who want to improve the health of their neighborhoods by making healthy lifestyles more accessible.

Contact Info: againey@msphi.org

CEAL is designed to provide trustworthy, science-based information through active community engagement and outreach to the people hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of building long-lasting partnerships as well as improving diversity and inclusion in our research response to COVID-19. MSPHI is a partner of the MSDH , Office of Preventive Health to provide support in implementing vaccine equity public health research and outreach efforts(helping promote vaccine confidence research and promotion efforts.

The purpose of the MHPC is to engage stakeholders and experts to improve awareness of the needs, gaps, challenges, and barriers affecting Mississippians who live with or are at risk of contracting HIV. The MHPC is results-oriented and assists and supports MSDH in the development of the Integrated HIV Prevention and Care Plan. This involves assessing the extent and impact of HIV/AIDS on Mississippi’s population and determining the needs for HIV treatment-related services. It ensures that HIV prevention and care resources target priority populations and interventions set forth in the comprehensive plan. Mississippi HIV Planning Council (MHPC) membership consists of representatives from state and local and agencies, community-based organizations, health care providers, community leaders, and individuals living with, or affected by HIV/AIDS. MSPHI coordinates the MHPC in partnership with the Office of STD/HIV, Mississippi State Department of Health

The Jackson Heart Study (JHS),  is a major, long-term study of hearth health in African American adults living in the Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan areas.  The JHS Community Engagement Center (CEC), Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH)  supports the Jackson Heart Study’s efforts to promote heart health within targeted communities around the greater Jackson metropolitan area. The Community Engagement Center (CEC) actively draws upon Jackson Heart Study (JHS) research findings and builds awareness of health risks and healthy choices to improve lives. MSPHI works  collaboratively with the Office of Preventive Health , MSDH, which coordinates CEC to develop and disseminate print, radio, television campaign messaging and materials including website and social media platforms to promote cardiovascular disease prevention in the Jackson area and beyond. MSPHI assists with videography and the development of informational articles, newsletters, flyers, pamphlets, infographics, etc. utilizing JHS or MSDH driven data to promote risk factor reduction for cardiovascular disease and related conditions in African Americans.

The Mississippi Choctaw Youth Resilience Initiative (CYRI-MS) is a partnership between MSPHI and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI.).  CYRI-MS augments  and extends previous suicide prevention efforts implemented by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI). The MBCI is a self-governing vibrant Native American tribe of 11,000 but has historically faced the compounded disadvantages of cultural marginalization. MSPHI coordinates a combination of evidence based programs and practices (EBPs)  with cultural adaptations undertaken as directed by tribal leaders.

In partnership with Mississippi Department of Mental Health through Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), MSPHI has developed a training program to support the State Opioid Response Strategy.

Contact Info: rthurman@msphi.org

COSSUP, which stands for Comprehensive Opioid Stimulant Substance Abuse Program, is aimed at addressing the opioid crisis in the top 6 counties of Mississippi. Our primary objectives are to develop, implement, and expand comprehensive initiatives to identify, respond to, treat, and support individuals affected by opioids in six specific areas in the state of Mississippi.

The CoCOMP Project aims to enhance mental health services in Mississippi, particularly for individuals facing both addiction and mental health challenges. This project focuses on improving programs funded by the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUPTRS).

Contact Info: Jordon Hillhouse – jhillhouse@msphi.org

The Mississippi Behavioral Health Learning Network (MSBHLN) was established by MSPHI in July 2017 in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services to provide professional and workforce development to behavioral health providers in the state of Mississippi. Educational offerings developed by the MSBHLN are designed to help professionals gain a better understanding of substance abuse prevention and substance use disorder treatment, assist with acquisition of current strategies and to provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to effective and efficiently perform the responsibilities of their jobs. To learn more about the trainings that MSPHI offers and to register for these trainings, visit our website, msbhln.org.

Contact info: Jordon Hillhouse  jhillhouse@msphi.org

The Smart Track Survey is a comprehensive tool designed to gather information on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug usage among students in grades 6-12 throughout Mississippi. It also collects data on factors that increase the risk of substance use and identifies community strengths that protect children. This survey provides valuable insights into the health challenges faced by students, enabling better planning and intervention strategies to support their well-being and prevent substance abuse. The Smart Track Survey has been the gold standard for over two decades in assessing student risks and protections across Mississippi. It allows schools to identify and address specific challenges within their communities, compare data statewide, and evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions. The survey is conducted by the Mississippi Public Health Institute (MSPHI) and funded by the Department of Mental Health of MS. It is administered in public middle schools and high schools throughout the state.

Contact Info: Shelby Ford – sford@msphi.org 

Mississippi’s Overdose Data Action (OD2A) program supports collecting high-quality, comprehensive, and timely data on nonfatal and fatal overdoses to inform prevention and response efforts. OD2A focuses on understanding and tracking the complex and changing nature of the drug overdose epidemic and highlights the need for seamless integration of data into prevention strategies. OD2A is led by the Mississippi Department of Health (MSDH) and supported by a federal grant initiative funded by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Contact Info: Jan Dawson – jdawson@msphi.org

The MS Strategic Prevention Framework for Prescription Drugs, MS SPF Rx, is a partnership between the Mississippi Department of Mental Health and the Mississippi Public Health Institute. SPF-Rx prioritizes prescription drug misuse by raising awareness about the dangers of sharing medications, working with pharmaceutical and medical communities on the risks of overprescribing, and raising community awareness by bringing prescription drug abuse prevention activities and education to schools, communities, parents, prescribers, and their patients.

Contact Info: Jan Dawson – jdawson@msphi.org