Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program - This four-year initiative aims to address critical maternal and infant health disparities in Alabama's rural communities, where maternal mortality rates exceed 36 deaths per 100,000 live births, and infant mortality rates are among the highest in the nation. The project aims to improve outcomes by establishing the Rural Maternal Disparities Consortium (RMDC), a collaborative network of healthcare providers, community organizations, and policy advocates supported by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). The RMDC will drive the expansion of maternal healthcare access and coordination across rural Alabama, addressing the systemic barriers that perpetuate health inequities. The project integrates innovative, evidence-based strategies, including the Community Engagement Framework (CEF), Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), and Mobile Maternal Health Clinics (MHMC). The CEF ensures community voices guide interventions' design, implementation, and evaluation, fostering trust and creating culturally tailored solutions. The NFP, a home visitation program pairing first-time mothers with registered nurses, will provide personalized education and support to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Complementing this, the MHMC will deliver integrated maternal and behavioral health services directly to underserved communities, overcoming geographic and logistical barriers. Key objectives include: 1. Establishing the RMDC to foster collaborative, community-driven solutions across 44 rural counties by 2029. 2. Expanding maternal healthcare delivery using NFP and MHMC to increase prenatal care access, behavioral health integration, and breastfeeding support. 3. Achieving measurable improvements in maternal and infant outcomes, including reduced mortality rates, increased early prenatal care access, and enhanced equity in healthcare delivery. Sustainability is prioritized through Medicaid reimbursement, value-based payment models, and transitioning RMDC governance to the ADPH. By leveraging innovative strategies, community engagement, and interprofessional collaboration, this initiative aims to create a replicable model for addressing rural maternal health disparities, significantly improving health equity and access across Alabama.
