Clarke Erickson Baer is a maternal health associate with 13 years of experience specializing in improving access to medical and behavioral health care for vulnerable communities. Baer’s expertise includes rural health, behavioral health, and maternal health, as well as serving populations identifying as veterans, American Indian, Alaska Native, LGBTQ+, justice-involved, and youth. She aims to maximize opportunities for all communities to overcome barriers to improve peoples’ health and wellbeing. Baer has worked with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), and the State of Arizona.
Baer supports the MCHB, providing technical assistance, change management, and process improvement support to achieve better health outcomes for women and children in the U.S. Baer also leads qualitative components of the HRSA Rural Communities Opioids Response Program Evaluation, which is examining the impact of Rural Communities Opioid Response Program funding to address the opioid epidemic.
In her previous roles, Baer facilitated the development of the CMS Rural Health Strategy, including a strategy for improving rural maternal health. She also served as Arizona’s Maternal Mortality Review program manager and published the first reports on severe maternal morbidity in Arizona and maternal mental and behavioral health outcomes in Arizona.
Expertise
- Maternal health
- Rural health
- Behavioral health
- Qualitative research and evaluation
- Technical assistance
Key Projects
- Strategic Plan Progress and Organizational Transformation, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA
- Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, HRSA
Publications
- Baer C, Ramirez G, Rubio V, Indatwa A, Tarango P, Bellucci L, Celaya M. Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use-Related Deaths in Arizona. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona Department of Health Services; 2022.
- Lewandowski K, Baer C, Schoustra R, Indatwa A, Celaya M, Tarango P. SB 1040 Annual Report on Maternal Fatalities and Morbidities in Arizona. Phoenix, AZ: Arizona Department of Health Services; 2020.
- Denson, D., Hart, J., Mijares, A., Erickson, C., Spitzer, T., Klein, C., Carry, M., Pitts, N., Gelaude, D., Carey, J. Understanding Barriers and Facilitators Experienced by HIV Care Providers When Engaging Patients in Care. Oral Presentation at the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, July, 2015.
Certifications
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, Georgetown University
- The Effective Facilitator Certification, Leadership Strategies
- Qualitative Research Analysis Training Certification, Research Talk
- Trusted Adult Ally Certification, Bloom 365
- Mental Health First Aid Certification, Southwest Human Development
Education
- Master of Health Systems Administration, Georgetown University
- B.A., Latin American Studies, University of Oklahoma