MARQUETTE — Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions and the Region 1 Perinatal Collaborative have been awarded $50,000 in grant funding for the Upper Peninsula Maternal Opiod Misuse model program.

The grant funding was received through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. The UP MOM model program will work with the Wester Upper Peninsula Health Department to utilize a community health worker in their organization to implement the program’s strategy in Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties.

“We are very excited to be awarded the Advancing Maternal Health Equity Grant,” said UPHCS Executive Director Melissa Homquist in a press release. “This award wouldn’t be possible without the support of Upper Peninsula hospitals and their commitment to improving maternal and infant health in our region.”

The UP MOM model program uses practices to support pregnant and post-partum mothers impacted by opioid misuse in the U.P.

The funding provided by the BCBSM grant will support sustainable initiatives to advance health equity and reduce the risk of maternal mortality due to substance use and opioid use disorders while assisting in the navigation of complex systems to receive care.

For more information, contact Karly Billings via phone at 906-225-1163 or email at kbillings@uphp.com.