Arkansas Sees Significant Investments in Maternal and Pediatric Health
Arkansas has recently been awarded nearly million in federal grant money to strengthen voluntary home-visiting programs for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children. This funding, announced by President Joe Biden’s administration, aims to enhance support and care for these critical life stages.
Access to quality maternal and pediatric care is crucial for the health and well-being of both mothers and children. Arkansas, which currently ranks 50th among US states for maternal mortality, has been actively working to improve its maternal health statistics. One significant step is the establishment of the Arkansas Perinatal Quality Collaborative, involving over 35 hospitals statewide to prevent maternal deaths.
Gov. Sarah Sanders has also signed an executive order creating the Arkansas Strategic Committee for Maternal Health. This committee focuses on improving maternal health outcomes in the state. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has recently been awarded .2 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support a statewide collaborative on improving maternal and infant health. UAMS is using machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze rich datasets and make connections to generate new hypotheses and studies.
Additionally, the Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has announced million in new investments to address maternal health disparities in rural communities, further underscoring the commitment to improving maternal health in Arkansas.
In addition to state and federal initiatives, charitable organizations are also investing in community health projects. For instance, the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas awarded 32 grants worth over million to organizations supporting maternal and pediatric health, behavioral health, and social determinants of health across all 75 counties in the state. These grants range from ,000 to 0,000 and were granted to organizations providing various support services, such as healthcare for expectant mothers, mental health support for new mothers, and educational resources for postpartum mothers and their children.
These significant investments and collaborative efforts reflect Arkansas’ dedication to addressing its maternal health challenges and improving the overall health outcomes for mothers and children in the state.
