Story by Whitney Carter. Photos provided by Hope cottage.
The mission of both nonprofits was given a big boost with a $2 million gift from The George and Fay Young Foundation to build a new facility that will bring prenatal care to women living in underserved communities.
This news comes after new research was released from the Centers for Disease Control that shows Black women have the highest maternal mortality rate in the United States. According to the study, they are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.
Moreover, the 2022 Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee report estimates that 90 percent of maternal deaths in Texas may have been preventable if important services were offered.
That’s where Hope Cottage hopes to fill in some of the gaps. They have a history of transforming lives by uniting and strengthening families.
Hope Cottage was founded in 1918 as a children’s home. They have connected thousands of children with loving forever families through adoption. The organization has grown over the decades to respond to community needs– from the pressing need for safe, caring foster homes, to education and support for families in crisis.
“Strong families begin with healthy births. Yet here in Dallas and across the state, we are seeing a crisis in maternal health, with many mothers unable to access prenatal care, putting them and their children at risk,” Chief Executive Officer for Hope Cottage Stephanie Bohan says. “We are thrilled to partner with HHM Health, which shares our commitment to helping pregnant women get the services needed to deliver healthy babies.”
Texas ranks 49th in the nation for women’s health, according to a new study from Commonwealth Fund, which supports independent research on healthcare issues.
“HHM Health recognizes the need for better women’s healthcare in the great state of Texas,” Chief Executive Officer at HHM Health Brian Hawkins says. “So many of our patients are part of vulnerable communities and often don’t know where to turn. We have made a commitment to continue to step up and be that resource for women in Dallas. Partnering with Hope Cottage allows us to reach more mothers and help them deliver safely.”
At the new clinic, HHM will offer low-cost pregnancy testing, Medicaid enrollment, and prenatal care. HHM and Hope Cottage will team up to provide mothers with parenting education, case management, and access to community resources during and after pregnancy.
This will be HHM’s fifth location in North Texas and located at the Hope Cottage in the Wilson District near Deep Ellum and downtown Dallas. It will be named after George and Fay Young’s late daughter, Carol Young Marvin, who they adopted through Hope Cottage.
For more information on the Hope Cottage, or if you or someone you know needs help, you can visit their website.
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