Grants awarded to address maternal health disparities in underserved communities

Recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation announced $300,000 in grant awards to eight organizations through the Advancing Maternal Health Equity grant program. A partnership with Kalamazoo Community Foundation will support an additional grant award to an organization in the Kalamazoo community. Funds will support Michigan community-based organizations that incorporate lasting initiatives to advance health equity, improve maternal health outcomes and reduce a patient’s risk of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity.

The Advancing Maternal Health Equity grant program accepted applications from Regional Perinatal Quality Collaboratives (RPQC) and Michigan based nonprofit organizations across the state. These organizations proposed sustainable initiatives that address disparities in access, maternal and infant health care, gaps within the social determinants of health and access to support services. They also provided innovative and evidence-based plans to improve maternal and infant health and reduce the risk of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity. This grant program is part of Blue Cross’s multi-year health equity strategy to address disparities and align with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association's goal to reduce racial disparities in maternal health by 50% by 2026.

“Addressing maternal health disparities throughout Michigan remains a priority for Blue Cross. We’re honored to partner with these exceptional organizations to improve health outcomes for a third year through the Advancing Maternal Health Equity program,” said Ken Hayward, vice president and special assistant to the president for Community Relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “Through the program, grantees will work to improve accessibility to resources and services and target maternal health disparities in several communities.”

“The selected grantees have made a commitment to serve patients by taking meaningful strides to address pre-and-postpartum pregnancy challenges,” said Audrey Harvey, executive director and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. “The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation commends these eight admirable organizations and their sustainable programs to support individuals in underserved and marginalized communities and individuals with intersecting identities, including people of color, that face disparate health outcomes.”

For a full list of organizations awarded Advancing Maternal Health Equity grants, click here.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.