Arkansas, Kentucky each awarded $10M grants for maternal health efforts

A nonprofit founded by philanthropist Olivia Walton announced Thursday it is awarding $10 million grants to Arkansas and Kentucky to improve maternal health in rural communities.

Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America announced the grants, its first state-level investments that are part of a $100 million initiative to cut the U.S. maternal death rate in half in five years.

Walton announced the grants at the Heartland Summit in Bentonville with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

“Arkansas and Kentucky are already making significant investments in maternal health, and we have an opportunity to build on that momentum,” Walton said in a news release. “States know their communities best, and we can help bring additional resources, partners, and support to build on what’s already working. We’re proud to start from the Heartland in Arkansas and Kentucky and show what this kind of partnership can make possible.” 

Olivia Walton is married to Tom Walton, the grandson of Bentonville-based Walmart’s founder Sam Walton. Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America announced the $100 million for cutting maternal deaths in September.

March of Dimes report highlights Arkansas’ gaps in maternity care

Healthy Moms said it will work with the two states to develop, implement and evaluate sustainable models of care that can be replicated across the country. The funding will support several state-led efforts, including expanding access to maternity care by growing the availability of midwives, doulas, community health workers and other maternal health professionals. The funding will also strengthen maternal health data, increase access to home visit services and expand postpartum care.

The two states face similar challenges in maternal healthcare. Nearly half of Arkansas’ 75 counties are maternity care deserts, with 78,000 Arkansas women ages 15 to 44 living in a county without a birthing hospital or obstetric physician, according to the March of Dimes. 

“The best maternal health policy is one that reaches moms before there’s a crisis,” Sanders said. “That means putting more providers in communities that need them, strengthening prenatal and postpartum care, and making sure distance isn’t a barrier to getting help.”

Nearly half of Kentucky’s counties are also designated as maternity care deserts and more than half of rural women in the state live more than 30 minutes from a birthing hospital.

“This $10 million commitment will help us build on the progress we’ve made by advancing postpartum and prenatal care for new and expecting mothers,” Beshear said. “Now we can make sure moms and babies receive the quality care they deserve, right in their own community.”