Regional leaders to gather in Sikeston for maternal health conference
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
SIKESTON, Mo., (KBSI) — Healthcare professionals, service providers and community leaders from across southeast Missouri, southern Illinois and northern Arkansas will gather in Sikeston next week to discuss ways to improve maternal health and birth outcomes in rural communities.
Bootheel Babies & Families will host its third annual ELEVATE! Conference on June 25 at the Miner Convention Center. This year’s theme, “Stronger Together: Supporting Rural Families and Transforming Care,” focuses on strengthening support systems for families and addressing challenges related to maternal and infant health.
The conference will feature panel discussions, breakout sessions, networking opportunities and a keynote address from Dr. Brookshield Laurent, an osteopathic family medicine physician and associate dean of population and public health at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University.
Laurent also serves as executive director of the Delta Population Health Institute and has led initiatives focused on maternal health and rural healthcare in the Mississippi Delta region.
Organizers said the event aims to foster collaboration among organizations working to address infant mortality and maternal health concerns. Last year’s conference drew 74 participants representing 43 organizations from 13 Missouri counties, as well as southern Illinois and northern Arkansas.
The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 25 at the Miner Convention Center, 610 E. Malone Ave. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Bootheel Babies & Families serves Scott, Stoddard, Mississippi, New Madrid, Dunklin and Pemiscot counties and works with healthcare providers and nonprofit organizations to improve maternal and infant health outcomes throughout the region.
