About the Collaborative
History
The Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies (TCHMB) began officially operating as the state perinatal quality collaborative in 2013. TCHMB started as the Expert Panel advising Healthy Texas Babies, the state infant mortality reduction initiative housed at DSHS.
In 2015, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, in partnership with UT System, began supporting TCHMB through a three-year contract.
In September 2023, TCHMB transferred to the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in Austin to expand family and child health expertise. Dr. Deanna Hoelscher serves as lead faculty for TCHMB, taking on the responsibility following her predecessor, Dr. David Lakey.
Network
TCHMB is a collaboration of over 115 healthcare providers, scientists, hospitals, state agencies, advocates and insurers whose goal is to design projects, collect research data, develop strategies, and evaluation plans to improve birth outcomes in Texas.
Mission & Goals
The Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies (TCHMB) is a multidisciplinary network made up of health professionals throughout the state. Our mission is to advance health care quality and patient safety for all Texas mothers and babies through the collaboration of health and community stakeholders as informed by the voices of the patients we serve.
Current Initiatives
Lactation and Safe Sleep Opportunities in Texas
A hospital-based quality improvement initiative focused on improving breastfeeding and use of mother’s own milk for Texas infants, along with promotion of safe infant sleep best practices.
Screening and Treatment in Outpatient Pregnancy Care to Prevent Congenital Syphilis
A quality improvement initiative focused on improving the timeliness of syphilis screening, diagnosis, treatment during pregnancy, and follow-up care in outpatient pregnancy settings.
Implementation Partnership
TCHMB serves as an implementation partner for TexasAIM.
Resources
TCHMB Overview
Learn more about TCHMB's history, network, mission, goals, and initiatives.
2025 Year in Review
Highlights from TCHMB's work, quality improvement initiatives, statewide collaboration, leadership, and communications in 2025.