Newborn baby photo by Janko Ferlic on unsplash.com

Anthem Blue Cross Foundation has granted $400,000 to the Marjaree Mason Center in Fresno to help reduce preterm birth rates among pregnant women experiencing domestic violence.

 The grant will be used to offer prenatal care, mental health support, assistance navigating health care and social services, and additional education and resources to help women make informed decisions about their health as well as their unborn babies.

 This effort engages the the Marjaree Mason Center’s Maternal Health Program, a collaborative project between with UCSF Fresno and the Fresno County Department of Public Health that aims to reduce incidents of preterm births and improve overall health and well-being of mothers and their babies by addressing their comprehensive needs.

“MMC expresses our heartfelt gratitude to the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation for ensuring that we have the resources to provide holistic care to expectant mothers,” said Nicole Linder, Marjaree Mason Center CEO. “The significant investment from Anthem, and partnership with UCSF Fresno and County of Fresno Public Health, will provide intensive care for mothers and babies during one of the most traumatic and lonely times in their lives.”

MMC supports women and their children who have been affected by domestic violence, and advocates for victims in an effort to end the cycle of abuse.

There are well-documented, negative long-term implications to early exposure of this type of trauma. Experiencing domestic violence during pregnancy often leads to reduced prenatal care, leading to health issues such as low gestational weight gain, preterm birth and low infant birth weight, according to a news release.

“Anthem Blue Cross and our Foundation have made significant investments to ensure women and their babies can achieve optimal health and well-being across the nation, in California, and in regions like Fresno County, where some of the greatest maternal health disparities persist,” said Les Ybarra, president of Anthem’s Medi-Cal health plan. “We recognize the critical role that MMC’s Maternal Health Program plays in the lives of some of our most vulnerable Californians, and we are proud to be part of an effort that is making a positive impact on so many lives and building stronger, healthier communities.”

The Maternal Health Program is available to pregnant women connected with MMC through one of its other emergency support programs. Twice a month, participants access assistance at clinics staffed by OB/GYNs from UCSF Fresno where participants will receive a care bag containing essential items to support the health of moms and their babies.

Each bag contains vitamins, pregnancy bands and self-care to promote health and wellness for the mother, as well as diapers, wipes, newborn clothing, bottles and other necessary resources for healthy development of the baby.

“Our team carefully curates each bag to meet each clients’ unique needs in order to meaningfully help the family throughout their pregnancy and early parenting journey,” Linder added. “The mommy and baby bags are just one way we demonstrate our commitment to providing high-quality care to our clients and ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive.”

Participants are also supported by a public health nurse from the County of Fresno, who provides care to women through the course of their pregnancies, as well as provides home care support up to six weeks after delivery. Since the soft launch of MMC’s Maternal Health Program in 2022, five babies have been delivered to term and there are currently 14 participants being supported.