Across Alabama, far too many women face serious barriers to maternal care–but efforts are underway to change that. The Caring Foundation of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is leading a multi-faceted approach to improve maternal health outcomes through innovative partnerships, mobile care, and direct community support. From bringing prenatal services to maternity care deserts to investing in doulas, education tools, and smarter policy, progress is taking shape statewide.

These solutions come at a critical time. According to data from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, 58% of Alabama counties qualify as maternity care deserts—areas with no hospital or birth center offering obstetric care and no obstetric providers. For thousands of expectant mothers, that means no doctor nearby, no local labor and delivery options, and no prenatal or postpartum support within reach.

Within these counties, many women have little to no access to maternal care, with 37.3% lacking an obstetric clinician and 14.9% having only one. This situation affects approximately 7,300 babies and 12.2% of women of childbearing age living in areas with limited access to maternity care.

The numbers are sobering. Alabama’s maternal mortality rate ranks among the highest in the nation, with more than 64 deaths per 100,000 births between 2018 and 2021. That number rises to over 100 per 100,000 for Black mothers. Nearly one in five women in the state receive inadequate prenatal care–either starting care too late or not getting enough of it throughout their pregnancy.

But thanks to new partnerships and outreach models, there’s growing momentum toward reversing these trends.

Meeting the Moment with Mobile Care

The Caring Foundation, in partnership with March of Dimes, is planning to launch the Mom and Baby Mobile Health Center, a major initiative designed to deliver prenatal, postpartum, and newborn care directly to high-need areas. The mobile clinic now serves communities including Florence, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Gadsden, Anniston, and Montgomery–areas identified as needing more consistent access to healthcare.

“March of Dimes is there for families throughout their pregnancies, even when access to high-quality care is out of reach,” said Ashley Toms, Executive Director of March of Dimes. “We are uniquely positioned through purpose-driven partnerships, like with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, to serve people in underserved communities.”

The mobile unit offers services such as routine checkups, postpartum screenings, lactation support, and health education. It’s a flexible, community-based model designed to close access gaps for women who might otherwise go without essential care.

 

Strengthening Care Through Education and Tools

In addition to mobile health services, The Caring Foundation is investing in tools that empower women and providers during the most vulnerable stages of pregnancy and recovery.

This year, funding was awarded to the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative to provide Postpartum Alert Bracelets to patients across the state who have experienced a delivery or pregnancy loss. These bracelets are a tangible reminder of potential warning signs during the postpartum period and help patients, their families, and care teams stay vigilant against life-threatening complications.

With each bracelet, patients also receive a SPEED Pass (Swift Postpartum Evaluation in Emergency Departments)—a business card-sized self-advocacy tool to carry alongside their ID or insurance card. The SPEED Pass outlines key symptoms of postpartum complications and provides space for a patient’s name, delivery date, and OB/GYN contact information. The goal is to ensure that postpartum women are recognized and treated appropriately in emergency care settings.

Expanding Doula Support Statewide

Recognizing the impact of non-clinical support during pregnancy and childbirth, The Caring Foundation has also provided multi-year funding to BirthWell Partners’ Community Doula Project. The Birmingham-based nonprofit trains community doulas and offers free or reduced-cost doula services to under-resourced individuals throughout the state.

BirthWell’s work is focused on increasing positive birth outcomes through emotional, informational, and physical support. Their services have been shown to improve breastfeeding rates, lower C-section risks, and reduce birth trauma. With help from The Caring Foundation, the organization has expanded into rural and underserved communities, including Tuscaloosa, Jasper, Anniston, Montgomery, Huntsville, and Florence.

In recognition of its impact, BirthWell Partners was named one of 22 finalists for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s Diamond Impact Award Grant. Winners will be announced at the organization’s annual awards ceremony in September.

 

A Path Toward Healthier Births

Maternal health challenges in the state are significant–but so is the growing response to them. Thanks to targeted partnerships, mobile clinics, doula programs, and life-saving educational tools, organizations like The Caring Foundation are helping to reshape what care can look like in communities that have long gone without it.

And while the work isn’t finished, the direction is clear: more access, more support, and more hope for every mother and baby in Alabama.