evidence: The COVID-19 pandemic caused unique disruptions to health and social care programs serving MCH populations. Between school and child care closures, telehealth limitations in maternal care, and preexisting inequities, the pandemic pushed an already Unwieldy system to its limits. Closures and limitations coupled with anxiety, extreme stress, and burnout exacerbated social drivers of health linked to poor health outcomes, especially related to maternity care, mental health, and racial and ethnic disparities. For example, the U.S. maternal mortality rate increased from 20.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019 to 32.9 deaths per 1,000 in 2021. These rates increased across racial and ethnic groups, with the highest rates observed for Black women.