Cority Health has been awarded a $500,000 grant aimed at enhancing maternal care through comprehensive doula services in St. Louis and surrounding promise zones. The initiative, presented by the organization's CEO, highlights the urgent need to address Missouri's maternal health crisis, where the state ranks 46th out of 50 in maternal mortality rates.

The CEO emphasized the critical role of doulas and birth workers in providing culturally competent care, noting that access to such services significantly improves outcomes for mothers and infants. Alarmingly, black women in Missouri are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, with 80% of these deaths deemed preventable. The disparity persists even when accounting for education and income levels.

Despite the proven benefits of doula care—such as a 57.5% reduction in postpartum depression and anxiety, and a 52.9% decrease in cesarean deliveries—there remains a shortage of practicing doulas, particularly among black and African American individuals, who represent only 6% of the U.S. doula workforce.

The grant will be utilized from 2024 to 2026 to address barriers to doula care, including the need for sustainable income and improved business infrastructure for doulas. The CEO stressed that without this funding, the organization would struggle to support its eight doulas, ultimately impacting the quality of care provided to expectant mothers.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to transform maternal care in Missouri, aiming to empower doulas and improve health outcomes for mothers and their children in underserved communities.