Hope Cottage Partners with HHM Health to Establish Maternal Health Clinic, Addressing Crisis in Prenatal Care
Date: June 23, 2023
Hope Cottage celebrated its 105th anniversary by announcing a transformative partnership with HHM Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), to establish a new maternal health clinic. The clinic aims to provide prenatal care to underserved women, addressing the pressing crisis in maternal health. The George and Fay Young Foundation has generously donated $2 million to fund the clinic's construction at Hope Cottage's headquarters in East Dallas near downtown.
During the announcement event, Stephanie Bohan, Chief Executive Officer for Hope Cottage, expressed the importance of healthy births in building strong families. She emphasized that the crisis in maternal health, which hampers access to prenatal care for many mothers, puts both them and their children at risk. The partnership with HHM Health enables pregnant women to receive the necessary services to ensure the delivery of healthy babies.
According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, Texas ranks 49th in the nation for women's health. Alarming statistics reveal that 30% of women in the state received no early prenatal care during the first trimester, positioning Texas at the bottom in this category. The 2022 Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee report further highlights that an estimated 90% of maternal deaths in Texas could have been preventable, emphasizing the urgent need to improve access to health services during pregnancy.
Brian Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer at HHM Health, acknowledged the need for improved women's healthcare in Texas and stressed the importance of being a resource for vulnerable communities. The partnership with Hope Cottage allows HHM Health to extend its reach and provide safer delivery options for more mothers.
The new maternal health clinic will be situated at Hope Cottage's location on Texas Street in the Wilson District, close to Deep Ellum and downtown Dallas. HHM Health will offer on-site low-cost pregnancy testing, Medicaid enrollment, and prenatal care. Concurrently, Hope Cottage will provide parenting education, case management, access to community resources during and after pregnancies, adoption information, and counseling for women considering adoption. Women served by the clinic will be referred to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas for labor and delivery. Post-delivery, HHM Health will continue providing care for mothers at its Women's Health Center in Vickery Meadow and babies at its Pediatric Clinic off Walnut Hill Lane.
The generous $2 million gift from The George and Fay Young Foundation will fund renovations to create the clinic space on Hope Cottage's first floor and cover five years of the organization's pregnancy program costs. Construction for the clinic, led by RGC Royal General Contractors, the same team that built Hope Cottage's facility in 2016, will commence in August, with an expected opening in January 2024. Initially, the clinic will operate two days a week and expand its services as demand grows through community outreach.
HHM Health's fifth location, the new maternal health clinic, joins its existing clinics in East Dallas on Greenville Avenue, Vickery Meadow off Pineland Drive, a pediatric office off Walnut Hill Lane, and Oak Cliff at Trinity Basin Preparatory's Jefferson Campus. The nonprofit community health organization provides a range of services, including women's health, pediatrics, adult medicine, vision, dental, behavioral health, imaging, and a 340B pharmacy.
Since its establishment in 1918 as a children's home, Hope Cottage has been dedicated to transforming lives through adoption, foster care, education, and parenting support. Over the years, the organization has responded to the community's evolving needs, connecting thousands of children with loving forever families. From providing safe and caring foster homes to offering education and support for families in crisis, Hope Cottage strives to nurture healthy relationships essential for the thriving of families and communities.
The partnership between Hope Cottage and HHM Health marks a significant step in addressing the maternal health crisis in Texas. By offering accessible prenatal care and comprehensive support services, the new maternal health clinic aims to improve outcomes for both mothers and babies, fostering a healthier future for generations to come.
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