The maternal mortality rate in the U.S is significantly higher than in most other developed countries and is especially high among Black and native American/Alaska Native women regardless of their income or education levels.
HHS https://www.hhs.gov is investing over $470 million across AHRQ, CDC, HRSA, NIH and the IHS Service to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity and improve access to care in rural communities.
This includes increased funding to go to CDC’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee and other Safe Motherhood programs, HRSA’s State Maternal Health Innovation Grants program, the new Healthy Start program, and other maternal health programs across HHS.
On April 1, 2022, HRSA https://www.hrsa.gov announced new funding for $4.5 million to support Community-based doulas in areas with high rates of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes.
The funding provided through HRSA’s Healthy Start Initiative, will increase the number of Healthy Start doula programs from 25 to about 50 nationwide. HRSA’s Healthy Start Initiative works to improve health before, during, and after pregnancy, and to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in rates of infant deaths and adverse maternal health outcomes.
HRSA’s work to improve maternal health outcomes includes helping healthcare providers identify maternal mental health conditions, offer referrals and treatments early on, and provide support for hospital and community-based organizations and clinics.
To apply for the Doula Supplement: Community-Based Doulas (HRSA-22-148) with estimated total program funding of $4,500,000 to be available to current Healthy Start awardees with May 31, 2022 as the closing date for applications, go to https//www.grants.gov/custom/printSynopsisDetails.jsp.