Heartland Forward Launches Maternal and Child Health Center to Improve Health Outcomes in the Heartland

The Center will work to reduce disparities and promote accessible care by providing technical assistance, sharing best practices and leveraging data to guide decision-making.

BENTONVILLE, Ark., May 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Heartland Forward, a policy think-and-do tank dedicated to serving states and local communities in the middle of the country, today launched the Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice (MCH CPP). By applying the National Governors Association's (NGA) proven playbook in partnership with policymakers, providers and community organizations, the Center aims to advance maternal health and improve outcomes for families across the heartland.

The announcement was made at the Heartland Summit—Heartland Forward's flagship event in Bentonville, Arkansas, before an audience of approximately 350 policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, philanthropists and thought leaders from across the country.

The U.S. spends an estimated $165.3 billion annually on avoidable medical expenses and lost economic productivity due to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Studies show that increased access to prenatal care, mental health services and community health workers could save the country $79 billion annually. The Center will unite local leaders, health care providers and community organizations to develop effective solutions, share resources and leverage data to build healthier communities.

"Putting maternal and infant health first isn't just the right thing to do—it's the smartest, most powerful investment we can make in our communities," said Olivia Walton, CEO of Ingeborg Investments and co-founder of the Heartland Summit. "I am proud to partner with Heartland Forward to ensure moms and babies get the care and support they need before, during and after birth, to build stronger, healthier families and economies."

The Center will be modeled on the National Governors Association (NGA) playbook for addressing the maternal and infant health crisis, inspired by New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy's successful Nurture NJ initiative—recognized for reducing racial disparities and improving maternal health by aligning state efforts around equity and access. Over the past seven years, New Jersey has moved nationally from 47th to 28th for maternal mortality, from 5th to 2nd for infant mortality, and from 6th to 1st for neonatal mortality. In just the last year alone, New Jersey has moved from 36th to 25th for breastfeeding and from 32nd to 18th for severe maternal morbidity. Heartland Forward believes similar results can be achieved in the heartland.

"The launch of Heartland Forwards' Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice will undoubtedly help transform the maternal and infant health landscape in Arkansas and across the heartland," said New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy. "I am incredibly warmed to learn that this Center will be modeled on the National Governors Association's (NGA) Maternal and Infant Health Playbook, which I had the honor of spearheading in my time as Chair of the NGA Spouses Program. Here in New Jersey, we have made significant progress through our Nurture NJ initiative to become a national model for maternal and infant health, and we hope to inspire many other states to take action on behalf of their moms and babies. As a part of our initiative, we have established the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, a first-of-its-kind governmental authority tasked with overseeing the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center. Based in our Capital City of Trenton, the Center will break ground this summer and will serve as an incubator for research and development, an academic and perinatal workforce training center, a data collaborative, and so much more. I am confident that our Center will work hand-in-hand with the Maternal & Child Health Center in Arkansas to make our nation the safest place in the world to deliver and raise a baby, as it should be."

The Center will also help implement Arkansas's maternal health plan, building on Governor Sanders' executive order and the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act. Working alongside more than 120 stakeholders, the MCH CPP will act as a convener and technical expert—supporting initiatives like reopening labor and delivery units through midwifery-led care and addressing regulatory, staffing and reimbursement challenges in real time. The Center will be incubated in Arkansas, with plans to initially engage Heartland Health Caucus states, before expanding across all 20 heartland states.

The Heartland Health Caucus is a non-partisan group including health care policymakers, working alongside providers, funders, business and industry, philanthropic leaders and local thought leaders to accelerate action and drive positive impact.

"Improving maternal health in the heartland goes beyond addressing immediate care gaps—it's about creating lasting, sustainable solutions for moms and babies," said Cara Osborne, the Heartland Forward senior fellow leading the MCH CPP. "This Center will equip health care leaders and providers with tools to drive better outcomes for mothers and their children. By working with state agencies and community organizations, we're building data-driven models to tackle the unique challenges in rural and underserved areas, empowering expecting mothers, mothers, and their children to thrive."

By collaborating with local health leaders and community organizations, the Center will strengthen care pathways and ensure access to quality maternal health services, particularly in rural areas. Key strategies include integrating community health workers and doulas, enhancing data collection and addressing racial and economic disparities through policy. The Center plans to replicate this model in other heartland states and expand partnerships with community-based organizations, health systems and policymakers.

Heartland Forward was joined by founding partners Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas and the Centene Foundation in announcing the launch of the Center.

"The Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice is a true collaboration of organizations and people dedicated to improving the health of moms and babies. We are honored to join Heartland Forward, Governor Sarah Sanders and stakeholders around the region striving to improve the lives of families in rural and underserved communities through meaningful work backed by proven research," said Blue & You Foundation President Rebecca Pittillo.

"As an organization that supports the health of more than 300,000 moms and newborns each year, we see firsthand how disproportionate access to maternal healthcare can affect rural communities. We're deeply committed to helping every mom and baby have the healthiest start possible," said Chief Executive Officer of Centene Corporation Sarah M. London. "That's why partnering with Heartland Forward to launch this Center was such a clear choice. This work of combining research, policy, and practice to improve maternal health outcomes is in natural alignment with Centene's mission to transform the health of the communities we serve."

Heartland Forward is committed to driving change through research, cost-effective care models, policy development and hands-on efforts to improve maternal health outcomes across the heartland. The think-and-do-tank released its latest maternal health research, The Economic Case for Investing in Maternal Health, describing how improved maternal health outcomes directly improve state economies. The Walton Family Foundation is supporting research focused on improving the tracking and use of existing maternal well-being data.

Through its Connecting the Heartland initiative, Heartland Forward has trained librarians across Arkansas and Oklahoma to help residents prepare for telehealth appointments—a vital service in communities with few local providers. These efforts complement the Center's work by making care more accessible now, even as long-term systems evolve.

For more information about Heartland Forward's work in supporting maternal health care, visit www.heartlandforward.org.

About Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank that turns ideas into action for states and local communities. Our mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country and generate $500 million of economic impact to the heartland by 2030. We do this through applied research, community-driven programs, policy and convenings— focusing on regional competitiveness, talent pipeline and health and wellness.

About the Heartland Summit
The Heartland Summit was co-founded by Olivia and Tom Walton and Steuart Walton in 2018 to kick-start economic growth and help change the narrative about the middle of the country. The Summit is a forum for frank conversation about our shared challenges, creating positive action and strengthening connections.

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SOURCE Heartland Forward