Beacon Health lands grant to address maternal and infant health
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
The federal Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded a $5.4 million grant to South Bend-based Beacon Health System. The five-year grant will support the launch of a program designed to improve birth outcomes, promote health equity, and eliminate health disparities.
The health system said in a news release Tuesday that the Michiana Family Journey program will involve collaboration among 25 not-for-profit partners in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.
The partners—which includes Child and Parent Services Elkhart, Mental Health Awareness Michiana, and the Notre Dame Eck Institute for Global Health—will work together to refer clients, assist with education and clinical care intervention, provide nonclinical support, and contribute expertise and resources, Beacon said.
“We will have health care, community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, and our health departments all working together to address the barriers to care and improve health outcomes,” Beacon Community Impact Executive Director Kimberly Green Reeves said in a news release. “This is an unprecedented initiative in our community, fostering innovation to significantly improve infant mortality rates and maternal health outcomes.”
Beacon said additional funding will be allocated to other counties through future grants as part of efforts to expand the program.
More community partners are expected to join the program as it develops as well.