For pregnant people in a stretch of rural east Georgia, having a baby is about to mean fewer long drives and a lot more local support. Wellstar Health System is rolling out a federally funded push to bring prenatal, childbirth and postpartum care closer to home in nine counties, pairing doulas, midwives and community partners with clinical teams. The Rural Community Consortium is designed to cut preventable complications and keep mothers connected to care from the first ultrasound through the baby's first birthday.
What the Grant Will Fund
The initiative is anchored by a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration and will expand Wellstar's Rural Healthcare Access Partnership into Jefferson, Burke, Emanuel, Washington, Glascock, Warren, McDuffie, Jenkins and Johnson counties, according to Wellstar Health System. The system says the funding will support expanded obstetric access, childbirth and parenting classes, breastfeeding education and care coordination. Axios reports the program will also hire three doulas to work directly with families. Wellstar describes the rollout as a partnership with Augusta University's Medical College of Georgia and local clinics so that more care happens close to where families actually live.
Why Georgia Needs It
Georgia's maternal and infant health numbers lag behind national averages. March of Dimes data show an infant mortality rate near 7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 and a preterm birth rate around 11.8 percent. The organization also finds that roughly a third of Georgia counties qualify as "maternity care deserts," a shortage that advocates say is tied to higher risks for mothers and babies, according to March of Dimes.
On-the-Ground Impact
Early signs suggest the new model is already changing day-to-day routines for some families. One Jefferson County mother told WRDW she now drives about 15 minutes instead of an hour to get support. WRDW reports that program doulas are making home visits, showing up in delivery rooms as advocates and sticking with families through postpartum checks during the baby's first year, while also connecting them with housing and food assistance when needed.
How This Fits Statewide
State health leaders say Wellstar's work lines up with broader efforts to rebuild maternal care in rural Georgia. Those efforts range from training pipelines that encourage clinicians to stay and practice in small communities to expanded home-visiting programs and longer postpartum coverage. Georgia Trend reports these strategies aim to reverse a wave of hospital labor-and-delivery closures and strengthen community supports. As one advocate put it to the magazine, "Georgia was 50 out of 50," a blunt reminder of how deep the hole is.
How Families Can Sign Up
Families living in the participating counties can enroll in Wellstar's Rural Health Access Program by filling out an interest form or calling the program line. Wellstar's RHAP site lists enrollment details and local clinic contacts. The service is grant funded and free for participants, and Wellstar says each family is matched with a care team that can include doulas, midwives and care coordinators, according to Wellstar.
The $1.2 million award will not close Georgia's maternal health gaps on its own, but program leaders and local advocates say a mix of community-based doulas and closer clinical access could move the needle for families in these nine counties. Program director Keisha Mays told Axios the initiative aims to create a "holistic ecosystem" that keeps mothers linked to care and reduces preventable harms.
