UnitedHealthcare Awards $275,000 in Maternal Health Grants to Seven Community Organizations in Louisiana
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana has allocated $275,000 in maternal health grants to seven organizations to enhance health outcomes and reduce disparities in maternal care. The funding aims to help over 100 pregnant women and provide support services like prenatal education and lactation assistance. CEO Karl Lirette emphasized the commitment to addressing Louisiana's maternal health crisis. This initiative is part of broader efforts by UnitedHealthcare to tackle maternal health issues nationwide, including $5 million in recent philanthropic contributions.
- Allocated $275,000 in grants to seven organizations aimed at improving maternal health.
- Support for over 100 pregnant women and various maternal care services.
- Part of UnitedHealthcare's larger initiative with over $5 million in recent philanthropic grants for maternal health.
- None.
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana has awarded
“UnitedHealthcare is committed to addressing Louisiana’s maternal health crisis and is dedicated to removing barriers that contribute to maternal mortality and morbidity,” said Karl Lirette, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana. “We cannot do this alone and are grateful for the opportunity to support organizations that are improving the health of women and their babies.”
The seven grant recipients include:
-
Birthmark Doula Collective – Serving New Orleans;
$85,000 t o provide doula support for 100 pregnant women, lactation support for 200 families by the New Orleans Breastfeeding Center, and provider development. -
Common Ground Community, Inc. – Serving Shreveport;
$50,000 t o enhance its Girls Group program, Mommy and Me classes, community resource center, and food program. -
Family Road of Greater Baton Rouge – Serving Greater Baton Rouge;
$50,000 t o provide wraparound services to 50 expecting mothers, including prenatal classes, teen pregnancy/parenting programs, mommy and baby support groups, physical health screenings, and mental health counseling. -
Foundation for LA/National Birth Equity Collaborative – Serving the state of Louisiana;
$10,000 t o provide birth equity training, connect women to resources, and support Black women-led community-based organizations. -
Healthy Start New Orleans – Serving New Orleans;
$50,000 t o support education, counseling, supplies, transportation to appointments, and access to a care team including a doula, social worker, and case manager for 35 high-risk pregnant women. -
Louisiana Center for Health Equity – Serving the state of Louisiana;
$15,000 t o support an office of women's health to provide education, leadership, and coordination on women's health issues. -
Saul’s Light – Serving New Orleans;
$15,000 t o help families with nonmedical financial assistance, books to promote bonding and improved mental health outcomes, and bereavement support for individuals whose children are stillborn or die shortly after birth; and expand peer and group support programs to new hospitals.
"The New Orleans Health Department's Healthy Start Program is excited to embark on this partnership with UnitedHealthcare to improve health for mothers and families in our city," said Chantell Reed, MS-HCM, deputy director, New Orleans Health Department.
Infants born preterm or with low birth weight are at an increased risk for experiencing physical disabilities and developmental impairments throughout their lives. According to America’s Health Rankings, the rate of low birth weight infants has been on the rise in Louisiana with
"Common Ground Community, Inc. wishes to express its sincere appreciation for the very generous grant to support our programs which assist moms, babies, and teen girls in north Louisiana. We are excited to be partnering with the wonderful team at UnitedHealthcare in Louisiana," said Lisa Conly Cronin, CEO, Common Ground Community, Inc.
"We are so grateful for the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana team. This generous grant funding will go a long way in supporting the mission of Saul's Light and, more importantly, the NICU and bereaved families we serve," said Kimberly Novod, MPA, founder/executive director, Saul's Light.
These grants are part of several initiatives that UnitedHealthcare, along with its parent company UnitedHealth Group, have launched to address maternal health outcomes throughout the United States. Initiatives include over
UnitedHealthcare serves more than 970,000 people in Louisiana enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare and Medicaid benefit plans, with a network of 147 hospitals, and nearly 25,000 physicians and other care providers statewide.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,500 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210607005010/en/
