Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
Address: West Georgia Medical Center 1514 Vernon Road LaGrange, GA 30240 Project Director Name: TBH. Grant Point of Contact: Mrs. Katherine Trombley Contact Phone Numbers: (470) 956-5789 Email Address: katherine.trombley@wellstar.org Website Address: www.wellstar.org Funds Requested: $5,500,000 Wellstar Health System (Wellstar), one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare systems in Georgia and a Top 5 provider of charity care in the U.S., proposes the Community-Based Ecosystem of Collaborative Maternal Care (CMC) Healthy Start Program to reduce infant mortality and decrease disparities in infant mortality and poor perinatal health outcomes in Troup (rural and priority consideration), Butts (rural), and Spalding (Medically Underserved Area) counties in west central Georgia, with a target population of Black/African American mothers. The catchment area will cover the entirety of each county. Maternal mortality has increased nationwide, and Georgia has the second-highest rate of maternal mortality in the country (48.4 per 100,000). Stark disparities exist among race and ethnicity. Over half (56%) of maternal deaths in Georgia are among Black mothers, though Black/African Americans comprise only 33% of the overall population. Serving more than one in six Georgians, Wellstar is the largest safety net and the only health system in the state with a dedicated Center for Health Equity committed to improving social determinants of health (SDOH) and building sustainable, community-based programs to address the crises of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Aligned with this mission, the CMC program will improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy and reduce racial disparities in rates of infant death and adverse perinatal outcomes among 700 participants annually by providing (i) comprehensive individualized care coordination through an innovative staffing model that embeds health equity-focused case managers within Wellstar’s W omen’s Health Service Line; (ii) community-based, two-generation, wraparound support services from a broad network of providers to address identified SDOH; and (iii) cohort-based, culturally competent, and convenient health education and parenting classes. Support services include intensive medical navigation offered by Women’s Health Nurse Navigators and access to community-based doulas for support during pregnancy and through the post-partum period, along with a host of services offered by partnering organizations within the service area to address food insecurity, transportation, education, employment, child care, and housing. This work will be informed and strengthened by a diverse Community Consortium, a multi-sector group of stakeholders and CMC participants who will identify and prioritize causes of disparities, form strategic community partnerships to address SDOH within the service area, and guide the implementation of CMC to continuously monitor participants’ unique needs. The Community Consortium will also track progress towards the program goals of increasing access to nutritious food, prenatal care, employment, health and wellness of families, and mental health and wellness of mothers.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).