Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System has been awarded nearly $1.6 million from The Duke Endowment to participate in the Maternal Infant Health (MIH) Carolinas initiative, a multi-year effort to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across North Carolina and South Carolina, strengthening care coordination and advancing health equity.

H.E.A.R. (Healing, Equity, Advocacy, and Respect) 4 Mamas and Babies (H4MAB) is a text- and phone-based screening and referral program that was developed by The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to identify medical, behavioral health and social needs early in pregnancy and throughout the postpartum year.  

The model proactively connects participants to timely, trusted services and has demonstrated significant improvements in the detection and treatment of mental health conditions, including maternal depression and anxiety as well as substance use disorders, chronic health conditions, intimate partner violence and unmet social determinants of health needs.  

The Duke Endowment's investment will support the awarded sites in planning and implementing H4MAB. This includes participation in a peer learning community and access to a comprehensive technical Assistance and Training Center led by MUSC in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The center provides training, technology, cross-site evaluation and data resources along with ongoing technical assistance to strengthen implementation. It will also collaborate with state agencies, Medicaid programs and private payers to explore long-term reimbursement pathways for program sustainability. 

Spartanburg Regional is among five health systems The Duke Endowment selected to form a network aimed at mitigating risk factors that lead to poor maternal and infant health outcomes while ensuring families across the Carolinas receive the timely support they need to thrive.  

Spartanburg Regional will collaborate with local healthcare providers, public health agencies and community-based organizations to share information about the new program and connect families with medical, behavioral health, social support and peer support resources. Spartanburg Regional will also convene a community advisory board to provide feedback, identify resource gaps and ensure that implementation reflects local context and community experience.

“Our aim is to work together to replicate and scale this program in hopes of improving health outcomes for more women and infants across the Carolinas,” said Jay Kennedy, senior program officer with The Duke Endowment’s Health Care program area. 

Staci Gallman, manager of Women and Children Services for Spartanburg Regional, shared how this funding will have a direct impact on mothers and their families. 

“Every mother and baby deserves access to the support and resources needed for a healthy start," Gallman said. “This funding will help us identify needs earlier, strengthen care coordination and connect families with services that support their health and well-being throughout pregnancy and the postpartum year. By taking a proactive approach to screening and referral, we can help ensure families receive support before challenges become barriers to care.” 

The pilot program is a component of Vital Spartanburg, a collaborative effort coordinated by Spartanburg Regional Foundation to improve mental and behavioral health across the community, and it advances the initiative's priority of increasing support for children, youth and families.