Our Initiatives

With support from HOPE, community members, doulas, doctors, and researchers came together to understand why many parents in Georgia face serious health problems during pregnancy and after birth. This new six‑month project takes what the group learned and turns it into easy‑to-use tools that can help improve care. One tool is a simple computer model that shows where the health system is breaking down, such as missed follow-up appointments, lack of mental health support, or gaps in care after birth. The other tool is a step‑by‑step plan that tells clinics and community groups what actions to take first, how to improve trust, and how to make sure parents get care throughout the full year after giving birth. Together, these tools help health teams work better, catch problems earlier, and support Georgia families in a safer, more connected, and more respectful way.

The Mother’s Legacy Wellness Circles program supports new mothers in Albany and Dougherty County during their first year after birth. For six months, moms can join monthly group circles, get private check‑ins, and receive help finding services they may need. The program teaches about healing after birth, managing stress, and staying healthy. It also offers a safe, welcoming space where Black mothers can share their experiences, feel understood, and get support from other moms and trained staff. The goal is to reduce isolation, catch health concerns early, and make sure every mother feels respected, supported, and cared for.

The Bringing Peace Home: Postpartum Care and Support home‑visiting program helps new refugee and immigrant mothers during the first weeks after birth. A team of doctors, midwives, and postpartum doulas visits families in their homes to check on the mother and baby, support breastfeeding, and look for any health problems. Because many mothers may have trouble with transportation or English, bringing care to the home makes it easier and safer for them to get the help they need. The team also understands the families’ cultures and can give support that feels respectful and comfortable. This program helps mothers feel heard, lowers stress, and makes it easier to get care early if a problem begins.

HOPE for Georgia Moms supports access to high‑quality, hands‑on training for the providers who care for pregnant and postpartum moms. Through this support, health care teams can attend the Obstetric Patient Safety (OPS) Workshop at no cost to them. The workshop is taught by the Northeast Georgia Health System simulation team and gives doctors, nurses and first responders the chance to practice how to recognize and respond to emergencies such as hemorrhage, cardiac arrest and sepsis.

This training aligns with the statewide Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care AIM Bundle, which encourages teams to communicate clearly and follow shared steps when a mom shows signs of cardiac complications. By practicing together, providers become better prepared to act quickly and confidently during emergencies, helping protect the lives of mothers in both rural and urban communities across Georgia.

Results

As of late 2025, HOPE for Georgia Moms has purchased 30 training seats for the OPS Workshop and 21 of those seats have already been used. These free training spots have supported a wide range of health care teams across Georgia and beyond, including:

• North Georgia
• Metro Atlanta
• Central Georgia
• West Georgia
• Southeast and Coastal Georgia
• Out‑of‑state partners in the Southeast region

The Maternal Cardiac Program at Northeast Georgia Health System helps protect moms who may be at risk for heart problems during pregnancy and after birth. Heart conditions are one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in Georgia, and many can be prevented with early screening and close follow up.

Through this program, moms receive screening, monitoring and referrals to heart specialists when needed. The program uses proven best practices from the national AIM Cardiac Conditions bundle to help doctors and nurses recognize heart symptoms early and connect moms to the right care.

Results:

Last three months of 2025, the program screened nearly all moms in its registry.
• 1,636 moms were in the registry
• 1,497 moms were screened
• 48 moms were identified as at risk and received follow-up care

These screenings help find heart concerns early so moms can get the care they need as soon as possible.

HOPE for Georgia Moms supports access to high‑quality, hands‑on training for the providers who care for pregnant and postpartum moms. Through this support, health care teams can attend the Obstetric Patient Safety (OPS) Workshop at no cost to them. The workshop is taught by the Northeast Georgia Health System simulation team and gives doctors, nurses and first responders the chance to practice how to recognize and respond to emergencies such as hemorrhage, cardiac arrest and sepsis.

This training aligns with the statewide Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care AIM Bundle, which encourages teams to communicate clearly and follow shared steps when a mom shows signs of cardiac complications. By practicing together, providers become better prepared to act quickly and confidently during emergencies, helping protect the lives of mothers in both rural and urban communities across Georgia.

Results

As of late 2025, HOPE for Georgia Moms has purchased 30 training seats for the OPS Workshop and 21 of those seats have already been used. These free training spots have supported a wide range of health care teams across Georgia and beyond, including:

• North Georgia
• Metro Atlanta
• Central Georgia
• West Georgia
• Southeast and Coastal Georgia
• Out‑of‑state partners in the Southeast region

Operation M.I.S.T. gives pregnant and postpartum moms tools to watch their health at home. Participants receive wearable devices, such as smartwatches. These devices can track sleep, stress, heart rate, blood pressure and other signs that matter for mom and baby. The Operation M.I.S.T. team reviews this information and reaches out if something looks concerning. Moms also get easy to understand tips and encouragement. The goal is to help moms notice small changes early and get help before problems grow.

Results:
We were able to fund 57 participants. Through regular monitoring, the program identified 51 important health issues early. These included blood pressure spikes, low vitamin levels, anemia, depression and other concerns that can affect a mom’s health after birth. Finding these issues early helped moms get the care they needed sooner and feel more supported throughout pregnancy and postpartum.

The Maternal Cardiac Program at Northeast Georgia Health System helps protect moms who may be at risk for heart problems during pregnancy and after birth. Heart conditions are one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in Georgia, and many can be prevented with early screening and close follow up.

Through this program, moms receive screening, monitoring and referrals to heart specialists when needed. The program uses proven best practices from the national AIM Cardiac Conditions bundle to help doctors and nurses recognize heart symptoms early and connect moms to the right care.

Results:

Last three months of 2025, the program screened nearly all moms in its registry.
• 1,636 moms were in the registry
• 1,497 moms were screened
• 48 moms were identified as at risk and received follow-up care

These screenings help find heart concerns early so moms can get the care they need as soon as possible.

HOPE supports this remote patient monitoring initiative in Wellstar GME OBGYN clinics using digital blood pressure cuffs connected to GoMo Health. Patients receive tailored care messages, and case managers can intervene in real-time to triage concerns or refer patients to clinical and social support.

What’s innovative? OBYN Resident Physicians are tailoring their communications with patients based on their needs.

HOPE for Georgia Moms partnered with the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians to help bring important maternal health training to family doctors across the state. With support from our grant, GAFP created a free online course on maternal mortality designed by family physicians for family physicians.

The course helps providers better recognize risks, respond to warning signs and support safer care for pregnant and postpartum moms in every community.

This partnership helps make sure that more primary care providers, including those in rural and underserved areas, have access to the training they need to help keep moms safe.

Results:

• Reached 15 family medicine residency programs across the state
• 272 physicians completed the modules
• Knowledge gains shown by test scores

• • Pre test average 64 percent
  • Post test average 81 percent

HOPE for Georgia Moms partners with Mothers Nest, a community organization in Macon that supports young mothers in Middle Georgia. Mothers Nest provides essential baby items and evidence-based education to help keep moms and babies safe. They focus on supporting young mothers who may not have access to the supplies, information and care they need.

With support from HOPE, Mothers Nest can continue offering prenatal and postpartum classes, essential baby supplies, doula support, mental health screenings and personalized referrals to local services. These added services help moms feel supported during pregnancy and after birth and make it easier for families to get the help they need.

Results:

• Completed more than 300 mental health and basic needs screenings
• Held support groups and educational sessions to support over 100 moms
• Distributed more than 500 bags of nutritious food to community
• Provided safe sleep items such as cribs and bassinets
• Completed car seat safety checks and distributed 25 car seats

HOPE for Georgia Moms supports the EMBRACE Program at Friends of Refugees, which helps pregnant and postpartum refugee women in Clarkston. With help from our 2025 mini grant, EMBRACE was able to hire and train a Rohingya Community Liaison, a trusted woman from the Rohingya community who will become a certified doula and childbirth educator. Because Rohingya is an unwritten language, having support in a mother’s spoken language makes care more meaningful and easier to understand.

Results:

HOPE funding made it possible for Friends of Refugees to hire a Rohingya Community Liaison who supports mothers through pregnancy and after birth. During the grant period, this role proved so essential that the organization chose to continue the position beyond the grant.

Rahina Kamal now serves as a trusted community liaison. She provides language support, helps mothers understand prenatal care, guides them through appointments and offers encouragement during pregnancy and childbirth. Her work bridges communication gaps and helps Rohingya families feel supported, informed and safe.

In partnership with the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia, HOPE supported the Conchus Lab to develop a digital learning tool that helps doulas and maternity care teams build shared understanding and stronger communication. The platform uses game based scenarios to teach real world skills in a simple, engaging way. Providers and doulas can practice responding to common situations, learn each other’s roles and build confidence in how to support moms together.

Interactive, scenario-based tools like this are part of a growing approach in maternal health to close communication gaps and strengthen teamwork among birth workers.

This platform helps make training more accessible, especially for doulas and community-based birth workers who may not have access to traditional education programs.

Results

• Co‑created with input from doulas, nurses, midwives, OB and GYN providers and patient advocates
• Built from interviews with maternal health stakeholders to ensure scenarios reflect real communication challenges
• Uses a structured communication model to support teamwork among doulas and clinical staff
• Turns real stories into interactive learning scenarios to improve shared understanding in birth settings

HOPE for Georgia Moms partnered with the Georgia Council for Recovery to begin creating a maternal health peer support curriculum. Georgia Council for Recovery is a statewide leader in peer support and recovery education, and their team brings deep experience supporting parents in medical settings and in the community.

In 2025, the focus was on building the foundation for this new peer support model. This included developing training materials, shaping the structure of the curriculum and preparing for future implementation. The goal is to equip peer specialists to support pregnant and postpartum moms who are facing substance use challenges, mental health concerns or other recovery needs.

This work sets the stage for expanding maternal peer support across Georgia in the years ahead.

Results:

• Seven curriculum contracts were issued and curriculum outlines were collected from partners.
• Drafting of the training manual began.
• The application process for future peer specialists was nearly complete.
• The curriculum will move into training in the spring after review and refinement.

HOPE for Georgia Moms partners with Postpartum Warriors, led by Georgia mother and advocate Makayla Walker, to support moms after birth with practical help and encouragement. The focus is on caring for mothers during the postpartum period so they can heal, feel supported and care for their babies with confidence.

Through this partnership, moms receive thoughtfully prepared care packages and guidance that reflect real postpartum needs. The effort aligns with HOPE’s goal to make care more accessible, respectful and responsive to what families say they need.

Results

• Eighty maternal mental health bundles were distributed
  • Each care package included educational resources on perinatal mood disorders, the Postpartum Warriors workbook and journal, essential oils and other supportive items.
• Three Mommy Meet Up events were held in 2025 in Covington, Watkinsville and Conyers.
  • Mommy Meet Ups created safe spaces for mothers to talk openly, learn and build trust with providers while reducing stigma around perinatal mental health.

In partnership with the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Georgia, HOPE supported the Conchus Lab to develop a digital learning tool that helps doulas and maternity care teams build shared understanding and stronger communication. The platform uses game based scenarios to teach real world skills in a simple, engaging way. Providers and doulas can practice responding to common situations, learn each other’s roles and build confidence in how to support moms together.

Interactive, scenario-based tools like this are part of a growing approach in maternal health to close communication gaps and strengthen teamwork among birth workers.

This platform helps make training more accessible, especially for doulas and community-based birth workers who may not have access to traditional education programs.

Results

• Co‑created with input from doulas, nurses, midwives, OB and GYN providers and patient advocates
• Built from interviews with maternal health stakeholders to ensure scenarios reflect real communication challenges
• Uses a structured communication model to support teamwork among doulas and clinical staff
• Turns real stories into interactive learning scenarios to improve shared understanding in birth settings

In 2025, HOPE for Georgia Moms partnered with the Irth app to help improve how mothers of color experience care during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. Irth is a community powered app where Black and brown women can share honest reviews of their prenatal, hospital and pediatric care. These shared experiences help families make informed choices and help health systems better understand where respectful care is and is not happening.

This partnership supported HOPE’s focus on advocacy and respectful care by lifting up the voices of mothers and using their feedback to encourage more equitable treatment in clinics and hospitals across Georgia.

Results:

• Atlanta increased its Irth reviews from 115 to 133.
• Georgia overall increased reviews from 265 to 310.
• Both Atlanta and Georgia achieved more than 10 percent growth above baseline review numbers.
• Nine community engagement events were held to help collect reviews and build awareness

In 2025, HOPE for Georgia Moms supported the creation of the 4Kira4Dads Paternal Center of Excellence in Georgia and helped launch the first four in person training sessions for fathers. The 4Kira4Dads Paternal Centers of Excellence (PCOE) is a Georgia-based initiative designed to empower, educate, and equip fathers as active partners in improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Through a series of in‑person “locker room” style sessions, the program creates safe, engaging spaces where men can learn about pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care, mental health, and family readiness directly from trusted clinical, legal, and community experts.

Each session blends practical education with real community-building. Fathers receive actionable tools on topics such as recognizing maternal warning signs.pdf), understanding the roles of perinatal care providers, navigating financial and legal planning for their growing families, and supporting their partners through postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and pregnancy loss. Men also participate in huddles, healing circles, and peer‑support activities that normalize emotional expression and strengthen mental health.

Results:

Atlanta event focused on teaching dads to recognize health issues of pregnant moms – WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta

• Reached 90+ fathers across four in‑person PCOE sessions
• Fathers showed consistent increases in knowledge and confidence across all events
• Fathers gained critical skills in how to support their partners
• Men reported strong appreciation for the emotional support components