GIVING BIRTH
IN ARKANSAS

Building a State Where
Infants and Mothers Thrive

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EXPECTING CHANGE: THE ARKANSAS MATERNAL HEALTHCARE STORY

Caring for babies and their mothers is an easy cause to get behind. However, creating the systems and infrastructure statewide to accomplish this is complicated. We need people, businesses, the public and private sector, along with community leaders to understand the issues. Together, in partnership and continued learning, we can break down the barriers that stand in the way of maternal and infant health and create a future where every new mother and baby thrives.

INVESTING IN MATERNAL HEALTH IS AN INVESTMENT FOR ALL OF US

#1

in nation in maternal deaths

#3

in nation in infant mortality rates

20%

of Arkansas mothers experience
postpartum depression

Zenobia Harris
Executive Director
Arkansas Birthing Project

Arkansas Birthing Project – building families and support

“Arkansas Birthing Project works to establish fictive kinship relationships,” said Zenobia Harris, executive director of the Arkansas Birthing Project. “Our founder calls it ‘sister-friending.’ Some people already have good family support, and they just want extra support, and some people don’t have much support at all.” Sister-friends, women who volunteer to serve as mentors to pregnant women, step in and serve as social support to help improve the chances that moms and their babies will be healthy. “By being a part of this ‘family,’ you have a lot of people.

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Ujima Maternity Network– From Crisis to Collective Action

Ujima Maternity Network’s vision is to advance the profession of birth work through advocacy and education, improve access to doula services, and ensure the consistency and quality of those services. In particular, doulas are advocating to have their services reimbursed by Medicaid and health insurance plans.

One proven solution to the maternal health crisis is ensuring that all women have access to doula support. Doulas provide physical and emotional support to pregnant women during pregnancy and beyond and are different from midwives in that they give no medical care.

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Nicollle Fletcher
Executive Director and Doula
Ujima Maternity Network

ONLY 35 ARKANSAS HOSPITALS
HAVE A BIRTHING UNIT

Maternal Health is a Collective Responsibility

“Ensuring that mom is healthy and economically secure is the most efficient, impactful intervention we can make for the strength of our families —and communities — as a whole.”

Olivia Walton, Founder of Ingeborg Investments
“When it comes to the maternal health crisis, care should be accessible to the people who need it most, regardless of their socioeconomic status.”

Nicolle Fletcher, Executive Director and doula for Ujima Maternity Network
“Babies are like the future in a basket. Everyone who wants a baby should be able to experience the joy of holding a bundle of hope in her arms.”

Heather Larkin, President and CEO of Arkansas Community Foundation

Fundholders do more good when they invest with Arkansas Community Foundation

Make a bigger impact with Arkansas Community Foundation. With the Foundation, fundholders have powerful alternatives to private foundations and their philanthropic dollars go further for the causes and communities they serve.

PHILANTHROPY IN MOTION

We support non-profits throughout Arkansas to become the places your kids will want to raise their kids.

By strategically funding a variety of local non-profits, we provide not only resources, insight and inspiration but also a statewide impact to build better communities.