More maternal health resources coming to Little Rock and North Little Rock

The fight to improve maternal healthcare for women in Arkansas continues, and soon more help will be available for moms in Little Rock and North Little Rock.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The fight to improve maternal healthcare for women in Arkansas continues.

Our state is ranked as one of the worst in the nation when it comes to maternal health, and now the Department of Human Services (DHS) is addressing the issue by partnering with Baptist Health to offer more help to moms in Little Rock and North Little Rock.

“I think the biggest thing here in Arkansas is to really develop a deep trust with the healthcare system,” said Kalena Jones, who is the community health programs director for Baptist Health.

Jones said they plan to build that deep trust through Maternal Life 360, which is a program that allows healthcare workers to do in-home visits with mothers.  

Currently, it serves women in Faulkner and Saline counties.

Now, an expansion will help those residing in Little Rock and North Little Rock. 

“They assist them with getting other services like housing, child care, food nutrition services, behavioral health or medical services, job skills services, all of those things. They also help them with parenting skills. Having a new baby in the home, things of that nature,” described Elizabeth Pitman, who is the director of medical services for DHS.

She also explained how this all comes at no cost to the mother. 

However, there are a few things you need to know to be eligible: 

 ● Be enrolled in ARHOME or Arkansas Medicaid and have a diagnosis of high-risk pregnancy (Life360 assists women in getting assessed for that diagnosis)

● Live in the Life360 service area (Pulaski, Saline, or Faulkner counties)

● Not currently receiving state-or federally funded home-visiting services from a provider that covers pregnancy for the first two years of a baby’s life

“It is funded through a state and federal partnership. So we do receive some federal funds for it, and then the state puts up some dollars as well,” she added.

There are already plans to expand it even more.

“We’re looking at the legislature this past session. It has allowed us to add different provider types, not just hospitals, so we’re looking at doing that as well,” she said.

At Baptist Health, Jones said the team can help expecting mothers who aren’t currently enrolled in Medicaid get signed up if they qualify, making them eligible for Maternal Life 360.

“The first step is just to reach out for help, and then we’ll take it from there,” she added.

You can sign up by calling (501) 202-4099 or by clicking here.

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