New nonprofit seeks to amplify the voices of families across Arkansas By Adena White
In early May of 2022, Ashley Bearden Campbell’s pregnancy took a sharp turn. She was admitted to the hospital in anticipation that she would remain on bed rest until her baby’s July 1 due date. Health complications necessitated an emergency cesarean section, and her daughter, Aubrey, entered the world at 28 weeks and five days, weighing a mere 2 pounds, 4 ounces.
“I had a wonderful pregnancy up until I didn’t,” Bearden Campbell said.
During Aubrey’s 70-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, Bearden Campbell remained by her daughter’s side as much as possible. Her concern for the baby was all-consuming, causing the new mom to unconsciously neglect her own mental health. An attentive neonatal intensive care unit nurse recognized the signs of postpartum depression and anxiety in the new mom and urged her to seek help. That pivotal conversation led her to therapy, medication, and a newfound determination to ensure other mothers wouldn’t endure similar struggles alone.
“Had the nurse not pulled me aside, I don’t know where I would be today,” she said.
From that moment, the seeds of Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health (AIM) were sown. Founded in January 2024 and led by Bearden Campbell, AIM is a nonprofit organization with a mission to “raise public awareness, cultivate champions for change, and spur action around the issue of maternal health in Arkansas.” In 2018, 92% of maternal deaths were found to be preventable. Additionally, 48% of Arkansas counties are without an obstetric provider, and nearly half of the 75 counties do not have a birthing facility.
“Through AIM, we created a platform to raise awareness around maternal health and create a space for families who have been impacted by challenges in maternal health,” Bearden Campbell said. “We want to address gaps in the access, affordability, and quality of care for women and infants before, during, and after pregnancy.”
AIM’s immediate priority has been to create a safe space for moms and families to share their stories. Bearden Campbell said these stories — whether shared publicly through AIM’s website or in conversations among family and friends — are necessary to catalyze change. The most effective advocates for improving maternal health are Arkansans who have experienced challenges as a result of poor maternal health care.
“I’ve always believed that stories are powerful, and I’ve seen for myself that sharing my own experience has led to a domino effect of others sharing their experiences,” she said. “Together, our voices will serve as a call to action for policymakers to make maternal and infant health a priority.”
In March, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order to create the Arkansas Strategic Committee for Maternal Health. AIM for Arkansas will work alongside other members of this steering committee to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies across the state.
“We’re excited to be included in this mix of organizations that are helping raise awareness about this public health crisis,” Bearden Campbell said. “The governor’s executive order was a huge win for our state, and the positive response we’ve seen from families and other stakeholders shows us how critical this mission is to the future of Arkansas.”
Families who desire to share a video recording or written testimonial about their experiences with the maternal health crisis are invited to upload a story at aimforarkansas.org.