by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)
Driven by research that shows Arkansas has the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, Arkansans for Improving Maternal Health (AIM) has formed to advance policies to raise the state’s standing. The group said it defines maternal healthcare to include prenatal care, safe delivery and postpartum support like mental healthcare.
AIM said it will amplify stories from parents to improve public awareness and to spur action for better maternal healthcare access, affordability and quality. A website, AIMforArkansas.org, has launched to share stories, connect with other parents and learn more about the challenges facing Arkansas.
“Statistics are compelling, but thousands of families have stories about how poor maternal healthcare, including care after birth, set them on the wrong path at a moment when their family’s future should have felt so full of possibility. Our goal is to share the stories behind the numbers,” said AIM Executive Director Ashley Bearden Campbell. “These moms and dads, and their children, deserve to be heard.”
