RICHMOND, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A task force focused on the care of mothers and infants has been re-established.

Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order on Wednesday concerning the Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures Task Force.

According to a release, this reaffirms Virginia’s commitment to supporting and advancing maternal health care.

"Improving health outcomes for mothers and infants is foundational to making Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Youngkin. “Mothers play an incomparable role in the lives of their children and families, and it is imperative that we do the necessary, collective work to ensure they are receiving the care they deserve. This begins with knowing where we need to improve, so that we can better maternal health policies throughout the Commonwealth and promote the well-being of women, children and families.” 

The task force will collect and evaluate maternal health data to help inform policies in the Commonwealth.

It will also analyze data to determine the need for additional benefits to protect women’s health by examining the quality of care.

Additionally, it will work to address barriers that prevent the collection and reporting of timely maternal health data, especially in communities that have been historically underserved.

The goal is to create recommendations on standard quality metrics of maternal care for the General Assembly.

To read the executive order, click here.