The FIRST program was developed by CPCQC in 2021 to ensure that: 

• Families are active members of care teams and collaborative partners in our work
• Solutions to address inequities in care are community-led
• Providers possess skills and experience in building relationships with families and communities and understand historical barriers to establishing trusted relationships
• Families are provided with a safe environment in which to engage productively with healthcare providers

The program has four main components and is run in annual, 12-month cohorts. 

• Recruitment & Onboarding: Identification and enrollment of individuals with lived experience.
• MoMMA’s Voices Patient Family Partner (PFP) Certification Training:
  • Self-paced online program.
  • Content focused on QI education and patient advocacy.
  • Goal: To equip participants with advocacy tools for effective partnerships.
  • Estimated Duration: 8 hours (to be verified).
  • Access: Through a sign-up link (works best on mobile).
  • Scholarship opportunities available.
• Integration into CPCQC Programs:
  • Opportunities for certified Patient-Family Partners (PFPs) include:
    • Serving on the Board of Directors.
    • Participating in committees to advise QI programs.
    • Educating healthcare facility QI teams.
    • Participate in relevant advisory groups
    • Present to national and local audiences
• Financial Stipends: Provided to support meaningful participation.

The perinatal healthcare field is experiencing shifts in thinking and in practice toward establishing partnerships of care with the patient and their family to facilitate the power of the patient to engage in self-management and informed decision-making as a member of the care team. 

CPCQC has pulled from this idea of a partnership of care to emphasize the importance of valuing the experiences of patients and family members before, during, and after their car and acknowledging care as a continuum, which then allows CPCQC to make an impact on more of those patient-level factors, it enhances clinical encounters, and even facilitates our ability to address some of the structural factors that serve as sources of care disparities.