Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has allocated another $3.7m to seven local non-profit organisations in support of maternal and infant health in Texas.
This funding is part of BCBSTX's Special Beginnings initiative, which aims to enhance maternal and infant health outcomes.
The initiative includes collaborating with community organisations and healthcare providers to increase healthcare access, lower gaps in care, and educate local communities.
The focus is initially on four regions in Texas, with specific grants to support various maternal and infant health programmes.
In Austin and Central Texas, grants have been given to People's Community Clinic to enhance perinatal care and early childhood brain development.
Funding has also been provided to Santa Maria Hostel to help it expand its Caring for Two programme. This will support families affected by maternal substance use, mental health challenges, and trauma.
In Dallas/Fort Worth, Abide Women's Health Services will expand community-based prenatal and maternal health services.
Financing has also been offered to HHM Health to facilitate women's health services in Dallas and bridge gaps in medical and social support services.
In Houston, the grant to HOPE Clinic will support its Maternal Outcomes Management Improvement (MOMI) project for women at high risk of severe maternal morbidity.
In the Rio Grande Valley, Access Esperanza Clinics will offer pregnancy testing, prenatal vitamins to additional women with the funding.
The region’s Holy Family Services will provide comprehensive women's health services, supported by the grant.
BCBSTX's Special Beginnings initiative is working to reduce maternal morbidities, mortalities, and health disparities.
Other collaborations are aimed at training doulas and midwives, listening sessions with mothers and healthcare providers, and increasing access to maternal and infant care through mobile health centres and tech-enabled platforms.
BCBSTX has over 140,000 healthcare professionals and operates 520 hospitals to provide healthcare services to over 7 million members across all 254 counties.
