Illinois awards $4.5 million in grants to reduce maternal health disparities

SOUTHERN, Ill., (KBSI) — The Illinois Department of Public Health has awarded $4.5 million in grants to 12 organizations across the state as part of Governor JB Pritzker’s 2024 Birth Equity Initiative.

The grants, ranging from $100,000 to $700,000, were awarded through a competitive process to support community-based efforts aimed at reducing inequities in populations at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes.

“Illinois has one of the most robust birth equity initiatives in the nation, and today’s announcement brings us closer to ensuring every mother has access to a safe and healthy pregnancy, regardless of her race, economic status or ZIP code,” Pritzker said.

The grants were awarded to organizations that will provide culturally competent care, address systemic inequities and center the voices of those most affected.

The recipients include:

– Aurora African American Health Fair Committee: $300,000 to train community health workers and doulas to promote culturally competent care.
– Blessing Hospital: $400,000 to reduce health inequities in Black and Brown women by increasing engagement and participation in their healthcare.
– Boone County Health Department: $100,000 to provide culturally appropriate pregnancy and reproductive health education.
– CHOICES: $400,000 to address birth inequities for BIPOC pregnant people in Southern Illinois.
– The Doula Lab: $400,000 to improve maternal and reproductive health outcomes in the Metro East area.
– Family Christian Health Center: $300,000 to develop a scalable model to advance and integrate care coordination for high-risk pregnant and postpartum patients.
– Family Focus: $700,000 to serve areas with significant maternal and infant health disparities.
– The Haymarket Center: $250,000 to mitigate health disparities among pregnant and postpartum Illinoisans struggling with mental health and substance use disorder.
– Midwest Asian Health Association: $700,000 to enhance perinatal outcomes for limited English proficient Asian women.
– SGA Youth & Family Services: $450,000 to address maternal health inequities in South Side communities and suburban Cook County.
– UIC at Chicago-Miles Square: $200,000 to explore the impact of an innovative community-based model of comprehensive midwife-led prenatal care.
– Winnebago County Health Department: $300,000 to launch a program integrating a universal newborn system of support, a doula development program and a mental health platform.

The grants are part of Illinois’ commitment to prioritizing maternal health, which includes expanding Medicaid to 12 months postpartum and implementing a robust maternal mortality review committee process.