Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network (BPPN) Awarded Third Place in National NIH Challenge for Groundbreaking Maternal Health Project
The Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network (BPPN) is proud to announce that BPPN has been awarded third place in the prestigious Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge, a national prize competition sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). BPPN is one of only eight nonprofit organizations selected from across the country to receive a cash prize in recognition of our innovative efforts to improve maternal health outcomes within our community.
This honor comes with a $208,000 cash award, which will fund BPPN's groundbreaking project, Survivor Moms’ Companion: A Perinatal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Program. This initiative aims to address the pressing issue of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among pregnant women in low-resource settings, a critical yet often overlooked aspect of maternal health.
The Survivor Moms’ Companion (SMC) is more than just a program; it’s a lifeline. SMC provides essential information about the adverse effects of PTSD during the perinatal period, equips women with the skills to manage traumatic reactions, and offers emotional support through structured discussion sessions. Our study will focus on the feasibility of implementing the SMC program, its effectiveness in reducing PTSD symptoms, and its overall acceptability among participants.
“This work has the potential to make a significant impact by advancing treatment options for perinatal PTSD and breaking cycles of abuse and psychiatric vulnerability that too many women in our community face,” said LuAnne Brown, RN, CEO of BPPN. “BPPN is thrilled that our project was awarded 3rd place in the NIH's Research Phase of the Connecting the Community for Maternal Health Challenge! This prestigious recognition and the $208,000 cash award will be instrumental in furthering our work to support maternal health in our community.”
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development sponsored this two-year challenge as part of NIH’s Implementing a Maternal health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative, which seeks to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths and enhance health before, during, and after pregnancy. More than 90 organizations applied to participate in the multi-phase challenge, which began in September 2022. Throughout the challenge, participating organizations received training and mentoring, culminating in the awarding of approximately $1.5 million in prizes shared among the eight final winners.
For more information on this award visit the NIH https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/news/062223-community-challenge-IMPROVE.
Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network (BPPN) empowers women, fathers, and families to take charge of bettering their family health and well -being by providing education, support, advocacy, and connection to resources and services in WNY. The work of Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network is dedicated to honoring the dignity and capacity of individuals and communities and in promoting health equity. For more information, visit www.bppn.org