#United States #Arkansas #MySwaddle #Doula Alliance

Enhancing Maternal Care in Rural Arkansas

In a significant step towards improving maternal health care services in rural areas, MySwaddle, a technology-driven maternal health platform created by Holista, has secured an $860,500 grant from the Arkansas government. This funding comes through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and was officially announced by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

The grant aims to bolster the initiative titled "Access Starts at Home Rural Maternal Care Coordination and Doula Support," which will place a team of ten community-based doulas in rural clinics across five regions of Arkansas—namely Northwest, North Central, Upper Delta, Lower Delta, and Southwest. This initiative is set to provide essential support to approximately 250 pregnant and postpartum women, ensuring they receive continuous assistance from early pregnancy through the first six months after childbirth.

With Arkansas being home to the highest concentration of rural counties in the U.S., the need for improved maternal care is critical. Of the 75 counties in the state, 63 are classified as rural, and almost half are regarded as maternity care deserts, lacking accessible hospitals and obstetric services. Current arrangements by the Doula Alliance of Arkansas (DA-AR) have enabled them to provide doula coverage in 24 rural counties, offering a vital point of contact for women in these communities during their pregnancy journey.

The doulas will be integrated into their respective clinic care teams, using MySwaddle's care coordination platform to enhance communication and collaboration among participants, providers, and doulas. This platform is specifically tailored for low-bandwidth settings and includes offline functioning, addressing a significant challenge in providing consistent care in remote areas.

Kate Grohall, President and Co-Founder of MySwaddle, emphasizes the importance of this initiative, stating, "Doulas are often the first person a rural mother turns to when something feels wrong, and until now, that knowledge rarely made it back to the clinical team. This grant lets us close that gap."

The new program will allow doulas to relay critical information to clinical providers, fostering an environment where patient care is addressed comprehensively and proactively. Liyah Wasson, Executive Director of DA-AR, noted that having infrastructure in place would ensure that doulas are properly trained and compensated while establishing a seamless line of communication with healthcare providers.

The grant originates from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program under the Promoting Access, Coordination, and Transformation (PACT) priority, created as part of the extensive "One Big Beautiful Bill" initiative. This year, Arkansas anticipates awarding nearly $209 million through the RHTP, with projections reaching up to $1 billion over the next five years.

By merging a community-centric workforce with cutting-edge technology, MySwaddle and DA-AR aim to bridge the gaps in access and communication for families in rural regions. The outcomes from this grant are expected to shape future sustainability plans, including reimbursement models established under Arkansas' Certified Community-Based Doula Certification Act of 2025.

About MySwaddle

MySwaddle is a digital maternal health platform designed to provide support and care for pregnant women and new mothers during the critical stages from pregnancy through six months postpartum. Focused particularly on serving Medicaid populations, MySwaddle is certified to maintain the highest privacy and security standards.

About the Doula Alliance of Arkansas

The Doula Alliance of Arkansas is a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the professional standards for doulas throughout the state. It does so via advocacy, educational initiatives, and workforce development, contributing to a network of trained professionals across all regions of Arkansas.