The Power of Partnership: An Innovative Approach to Improve Maternal Health
A collaborative pilot creates an ecosystem of support advancing health equity in underserved communities.
For one Atlanta mother, Erika, there was no celebration when she discovered she was pregnant.
She had no family support. No one to call with questions. She navigated it alone while working and managing medical appointments she couldn't always afford — or get to.
"I was battling really, really, really, really hard," said Erika. "I didn't have anywhere to turn."
Her experience isn't unique. Across the United States:
- More than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable
- Nearly 1 in 5 pregnant women experience mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy, which can increase the risk of preterm birth by up to 50%
But the crisis isn't just medical. It's a breakdown in how we think about care itself.
Health care operates in silos. A doctor treats medical symptoms. A social worker might offer referrals. Things like transportation, food security, housing stability and mental health support, while essential to individual health and wellbeing, aren’t typically included. Yet these needs shape whether someone can access and follow through on care in the first place. When they aren’t addressed, the burden falls on individuals, leaving them to navigate a maze of fragmented services alone while facing the very barriers those services are meant to solve.
"Some people just need a hand up," Miryah, an Atlanta mother enrolled in the program, said simply.
What if health care could be something different?
A coordinated ecosystem of support
A groundbreaking two-year pilot launching in Atlanta is working to answer that question. Developed by the AbbVie Foundation and CARE in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine, Lyft and the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the initiative creates something health care rarely achieves: a coordinated ecosystem of support.
The AbbVie Foundation recognizes that improving health disparities requires going beyond traditional health care interventions. And the needs for maternal health are clear: practical resources, genuine advocacy and trusted relationships. Not referrals to navigate alone. Not siloed services. But a trusted, coordinated support system to help pregnant people throughout the entire journey.
“Improving maternal health disparities asks us to think differently about health care delivery,” said Keya Milla, AbbVie Foundation president. “This partnership addresses the real-world barriers pregnant people face every day. We're advancing a model that's built by communities, for communities, with the goal to expand it to address other pressing health equity challenges.”
How the program works
Pregnant people in Atlanta zip codes with the highest unmet social needs who qualify for the program are paired with a community health worker — someone from their neighborhood who becomes their navigator and advocate.
Navigators receive specialized training from Morehouse School of Medicine in cultural competence, trauma-informed care and how to build trust and navigate complex systems. They connect mothers to four concrete resources:
- Pre- and post-natal support and education through Morehouse School of Medicine
- Delivery of iron-rich foods from the Atlanta Community Food Bank
- Reduced-cost transportation to appointments through Lyft
- Cash assistance
For Erika, Melvina and Miryah, everything changed when they enrolled.
Early data confirmed that the practical support is working. Funds to cover transportation costs mean they can attend prenatal appointments. Food deliveries mean they don't have to choose between buying groceries and paying other bills. "I was like, oh, I can eat now. I felt happy,” Miryah said.
"The challenges facing maternal health in this country require urgent, innovative action,” said Sarah Thompson, CARE’s associate vice president for U.S. programs. “This partnership embodies CARE's approach: locally led, culturally appropriate care that creates community networks of support. We're bringing 80 years of global expertise home to address one of America's most critical health equity challenges."
A care model to replicate
The partnership was designed to be applied across communities and areas of health care with different needs and resources. Once this pilot phase shows success, the next step is adapting and scaling it for maternal health, and beyond.
The vision includes integrating this approach into existing systems of care: community health centers, birth centers and public health agencies. Future iterations may layer in additional mental health and housing support.
The program launched in January 2025 and continues to enroll participants, with the aim to support 150 expectant mothers and their families. For the families it serves directly, the impact is already transformative.
For the Atlanta mothers whose pregnancy began in isolation, the program offers more than transportation vouchers and food deliveries. It offers hope. It suggests that the future of maternal health lies not just in treating patients, but addressing barriers and creating communities of support where mothers and families can thrive.
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