HMHB Receives Grant from Amerigroup Foundation to Support Prenatal Education Initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PRESS ADVISORYCONTACT: Mica Whitfield - 678-302-1130mica.whitfield@hmhbga.orgApril 22, 2019 - Atlanta, GA - Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia (HMHB) is pleased to announce it has received a $26,042 grant from the Amerigroup Foundation.“The Amerigroup Foundation is committed to improving lives and communities across Georgia and helping to ensure greater access to critical programs that can have a positive impact on our state,” said Mel Lindsey, Amerigroup Georgia Plan President. “Together with the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia we are working to ensure expectant mothers in our communities have access to education and services that focus on whole person health and provide mothers the opportunity to improve their overall well-being.”These funds will be utilized for HMHB’s Prenatal Education Program and the HMHB Prenatal Education Toolkit.HMHB’s community-based education and outreach programs are designed to better serve expectant women throughout the State. Through a comprehensive curriculum, HMHB will provide critical information regarding breastfeeding, perinatal HIV prevention, oral health, SIDS prevention, maternal mental health, accessing and locating birth support professionals, family planning, and existing public health services available to families in GA.In addition to prenatal education classes, HMHB is currently creating a resource tool-kit for obstetric care providers and prenatal educators in Georgia. The toolkit includes evidence-based curriculum along with best practices for providing impactful prenatal education. The resource toolkit will be available to providers and educators across the state to enhance course design, teaching skills, cultural competency, evaluation and outcomes for participants.The funding provided by the Amerigroup Foundation will help HMHB better serve mothers in the state. Georgia has consistently scored low in the national rankings for maternal and infant health outcomes. HMHB Prenatal Education Program participants will receive the information and resources they need to make empowered decisions for themselves and for their babies. By providing this information, along with dedicated follow-up, HMHB can improve maternal and infant health outcomes in Georgia, and as an additional benefit, improve women's experiences and associations with pregnancy and birth.“We are so thankful to the Amerigroup Foundation for investing in our Prenatal Education Program again,” says Mica Whitfield, Director of Programs at HMHB. “These funds will provide vital resources for our moms that are utilizing Medicaid or are uninsured.”