Public Health in the Rockies 2026

Background:

Public health and quality improvement (QI) initiatives are increasingly expected to demonstrate measurable value alongside clinical outcomes. Practical applications of Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology in maternal health QI remain limited. The Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative (CPCQC) partnered with the Center for Social Investment at Omni Institute to conduct an SROI study of Turning the Tide (TTT), a hospital-based QI initiative designed to reduce pregnancy-associated overdoses, a leading cause of pregnancy-associated death in Colorado, and improve engagement in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.




Methods:

Using an SROI framework adapted from the New Economics Foundation, the study estimated the social and economic value generated through improved postpartum engagement in treatment. TTT data from 2022-2025 were analyzed to estimate outcomes associated with screening, referrals, social work consultation, and treatment engagement.




Results:

Across 25 participating hospitals, 87% of birthing people were screened for substance use and 94% of those who screened positive received a referral or treatment. The analysis estimated that 34 additional birthing people maintained engagement in SUD treatment due to program implementation, generating an estimated $681,990 in social and economic value through reduced healthcare and criminal justice costs. Overall, TTT generated an estimated return of $1.99 for every $1 invested, suggesting that hospital-based perinatal substance use QI initiatives can generate measurable economic benefits alongside improved treatment engagement.




Implications:

This presentation offers attendees a practical framework for applying SROI methodology to public health and QI initiatives using implementation-based data. Presenters will discuss methodological considerations, data limitations, strengths and challenges, and lessons learned. Finally, presenters will highlight how lessons learned are being applied to CPCQC’s community-facing program, IMPACT BH, for a future SROI analysis. Attendees will gain practical insight into how SROI can support evaluation, sustainability planning, and communication of program impact in maternal and behavioral health settings.