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Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy: Countering Bias and Promoting Care
Most pregnancy-related deaths in North Carolina are preventable. Yet mental health conditions, including overdose and suicide, remain the leading cause of pregnancy-related death. For health care leaders, that reality demands a closer look at how we identify, treat, and support pregnant and postpartum patients with opioid use disorder.
Preventing Domestic Violence by Reaching People Who Cause Harm
The research involved a landscape scan of Cook County, Illinois’ policies, funding, and services for people who cause harm with a goal of engaging the stakeholders and providers doing this work as well as survivors and those who receive services to identify barriers, challenges, and strengths of domestic violence prevention programs. The research examined Partner Abuse Intervention Programs (PAIP) in particular, a standard intervention for people who cause harm that is overseen by the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Post-Overdose Response Teams: A Community-Based Approach to Public Safety
Recent changes in the federal policy landscape have created new questions for communities working to address substance use disorder (SUD), mental health needs, and housing instability. In this evolving environment, philanthropy, in collaboration with community-based organizations and local governments, has an important role to play in supporting evidence-based responses to overdose and mental health emergencies that improve access to care, strengthen community wellbeing, and uplift public health while avoiding unnecessary criminal legal outcomes.
Rural Health Information Hub: August 2026
The Rural Heath Information Hub recently released its Rural Mobile Healthcare Toolkit. This toolkit compiles evidence-based and promising models and resources to support organizations implementing mobile health care programs in rural communities across the United States. In particular, it highlights existing programs that have successfully provided rural mobile health care services.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation: August 2026
The foundation is issuing a funding opportunity to support local partnerships led by trusted community-based organizations that better connect, strengthen, and enhance existing mental health and well-being services for caregivers. This effort focuses on integrating and aligning existing resources to improve caregiver well-being, increase social connection, and strengthen pathways to clinical mental health care when needed.
Strengthening Health Care Access for People with Disabilities: Lessons for Philanthropy
In July, we recognize Disability Pride Month, marking the anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and celebrating the contributions and diverse identities of people with disabilities. While the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and establishes protections and requirements for employers, state, and local governments, and other areas of public life, many people with disabilities still face barriers.
Publications and Reports
Making the Connection: Pregnancy and Oral Health
Recent research indicates that efforts to support oral health can begin even before birth; just as a pregnant woman’s overall health can affect the health of her pregnancy and baby, her oral health can play a role in the occurrence of early childhood caries in her children.
Implementing Health Care Reform: Funders and Advocates Respond to the Challenge
With provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act set to take effect over the next four years, grantmakers and advocacy groups have been developing activities to address the early stages of health care reform implementation. This report is based on over 40 interviews with national and state grantmakers and advocacy organizations about their initial work around implementation.
Comparative Effectiveness Research: Informing Decisions and Improving Quality
Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is the study of methods to “prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor a clinical condition or to improve the delivery of care” (IOM 2009). Its purpose is to assist consumers, clinicians, purchasers, and policymakers in making informed decisions that will improve health care at both the individual and population levels (IOM 2009).