Maternal and Child Health & Care Navigation

Video MCH Program (English), Video programa (Spanish)

The Intercultural Health Care Navigation System Network developed by Phalarope is transforming how maternal, newborn and family health are delivered in Indigenous and rural communities with limited resources. Built from the community outward, this model unites traditional midwives, healers, and community health promoters into an interconnected network of community care navigators. In each target community, one to four navigators serve as the first point of contact for pregnant women, newborns and families, identifying pregnancies early, providing home-based monitoring, and ensuring timely and culturally respectful connection to clinics and hospitals.

Supported by digital tools such as ArcGIS and Survey123, the system enables community navigators to map and monitor pregnancies, detect early warning signs and trigger timely referrals, turning isolated efforts into coordinated, data-driven action that ensures equity, access and accountability.

Rooted in Indigenous leadership and ancestral knowledge, this living system of prevention and trust expands health coverage to the most remote regions. As we evolve, Phalarope is broadening this model’s reach into pediatric care, HIV prevention-treatment linkage, cervical cancer screening and broader health system pathways, ensuring no woman, child or family is left behind. By strengthening care navigation, we also enable women, families and community leaders to build the health foundations needed to pursue sustainable livelihoods and community resilience.

What begins as a local community innovation grows into a scalable and sustainable national model, demonstrating that life-saving, dignified health care can and should start within community-led systems.