The Workforce Behind the Care: Why Title VIII Matters for Nursing Diversity – and Maternal Health – The Institute for Health and Social Equity, Inc.

The Workforce Behind the Care: Why Title VIII Matters for Nursing Diversity – and Maternal Health

By Sherri Johnson, DNP, MPA, RN, FADLN, FAAN
Founder, The Institute for Health and Social Equity, Inc.

When we talk about solving America’s healthcare challenges, too often the conversation narrows to clinical fixes alone. But real change starts with the people who deliver care.

That’s why Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs matter so deeply. They don’t just fund education — they shape who gets trained, who enters the workforce, and ultimately who patients see when they need care. A more diverse nursing workforce means better access, better trust, and better outcomes.

One powerful example is maternal health. Black women in the U.S. remain three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, no matter their income or education. That statistic isn’t just about medicine — it’s about workforce, access, and policy. Title VIII is one of the tools we already have to change the story.

Title VIII: A Policy Lever Hiding in Plain Sight

Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act funds essential nursing education, workforce pipeline, and diversity programs. Administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Title VIII supports scholarships, loan repayment, clinical training, and faculty development for the next generation of nurses.

While often siloed under “workforce” policy, Title VIII is deeply connected to maternal health equity.

Here’s why:

1. Representation in the Workforce Saves Lives

Black mothers are more likely to survive and thrive when cared for by providers who look like them, understand their lived experience, and listen without bias. Yet Black nurses and midwives remain underrepresented across maternal health settings.

Title VIII helps diversify the workforce by funding:

Scholarships for underrepresented students in nursing
Faculty development at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)
Programs that prepare nurses to serve in underserved communities

2. Rural and Underserved Access Depends on Nursing

In many communities—especially rural or medically underserved areas—nurses are the first and only line of maternal care. Whether in public health clinics, birthing centers, or community health initiatives, nurses are often the bridge between systems and survival.

Title VIII directly supports clinical placements, nurse faculty, and advanced practice training programs that focus on primary care, maternal-child health, and health equity.

Bridging Title VIII with the Momnibus Act

No discussion of maternal health policy is complete without the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act—a groundbreaking legislative package introduced by the Black Maternal Health Caucus. The Momnibus proposes bold investments across 13 bills to address social determinants of health, perinatal workforce shortages, mental health access, and funding for community-based organizations led by Black women.

Title VIII and the Momnibus are not competing ideas—they are complementary tools. While Momnibus provides a sweeping vision for community-based, culturally competent care and system reform, Title VIII ensures that we are training, funding, and deploying the workforce needed to fulfill that vision.

A comprehensive response to the Black maternal health crisis must include both policy pillars—addressing upstream systems and frontline service delivery.

Maternal Health Outcomes Are Workforce Outcomes

The numbers don’t lie:

Over 80% of maternal deaths are preventable.
Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications.
The U.S. has a growing shortage of perinatal nurses, midwives, and OB providers—especially in Black and rural communities.

Without a workforce investment strategy, we will never close the gap in maternal health outcomes. Title VIII is a cost-effective, underutilized solution hiding in plain sight.

The Institute’s Vision: Invest in People, Transform Systems

At The Institute for Health and Social Equity, we’re not just building awareness. We’re broadening access.

Our vision is to:

Expand nursing and public health workforce diversity, with maternal health as one urgent priority
Support funding streams that uplift future health equity leaders across fields
Advance policy education and thought leadership that reflect the lived realities of historically excluded communities

Take Action

Policymakers and funders must recognize that maternal health outcomes — and so many other health equity challenges — are workforce outcomes. Fully funding Title VIII is one of the most effective steps we can take to ensure nurses, midwives, and community providers are prepared to serve every community.

If we want real change in health outcomes, we can’t just invest in treatments — we must invest in the people who provide the care. That’s the broader view.

Attribution & Sharing Policy

This article is the original intellectual property of The Institute for Health and Social Equity. You may quote or share excerpts with full attribution and a link to the original article.

Citation Link: https://institute4equity.org/the-workforce-behind-the-crisis-why-title-viii-must-be-part-of-the-maternal-health-solution/

For republication or citation permissions, contact: info@institute4equity.org.

We encourage thoughtful sharing—please help us ensure credit is given where due.