Initiatives

Promoting Women’s Health and Healthy Births Cohort

Every mother deserves access to the care, support, and resources needed for a healthy pregnancy, and every baby deserves a healthy start in life.

Connecting Henry is proud to participate in the Promoting Women’s Health and Healthy Births Cohort, a regional initiative dedicated to improving maternal health, reducing low birthweight births, and strengthening support for women and families throughout Henry County and surrounding communities.

By bringing healthcare providers, community organizations, and local leaders together, we’re helping create healthier outcomes for mothers, infants, and families.

Why It Matters

One important measure of a community’s health is the percentage of babies born at a low birthweight (LBW)—defined as weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces at birth.

Babies born at a low birthweight face a greater risk of health complications, developmental delays, and infant mortality. Improving maternal health before, during, and after pregnancy can help reduce these risks and give children the healthiest possible start in life.

Henry County at a Glance

  • 2021: 12.6% of infants were born at a low birthweight.
  • 2023: 12.5% of infants were born at a low birthweight.

While these numbers have remained relatively stable, they continue to exceed the statewide average, highlighting the ongoing need for collaboration and community action.

Data also show significant disparities in birth outcomes. In Henry County, infants born to non-Hispanic Black mothers experience the highest rates of low birthweight, reinforcing the importance of expanding access to quality healthcare, addressing social determinants of health, and supporting families throughout every stage of pregnancy.

Our Collaborative Approach

The Promoting Women’s Health and Healthy Births Cohort was established in 2010 to bring together healthcare providers, public health agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations committed to improving maternal and infant health.

Rather than working independently, partners collaborate to identify community needs, share resources, and implement evidence-informed strategies that improve health outcomes across the region.

Together, we focus on supporting women through every stage of the maternal journey, including:

  • Preconception health
  • Interconception care
  • Prenatal care
  • Perinatal support
  • Community education
  • Resource navigation and referrals

Our Role

As Henry County’s local collaborative, Connecting Henry serves as a convener, connector, and community partner.

Our role is to strengthen partnerships, coordinate resources, and help ensure families have access to the services they need before, during, and after pregnancy.

Our work includes:

  • Hosting community education and outreach events
  • Connecting expectant and new mothers with local resources
  • Convening healthcare providers and community organizations
  • Promoting awareness of maternal and infant health issues
  • Supporting community-driven strategies that improve birth outcomes
  • Strengthening collaboration across healthcare, nonprofit, government, and community partners

By working together, we can create lasting improvements in maternal and infant health throughout Henry County.

Community Partners

This initiative is strengthened through the collaboration of healthcare providers, public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community partners, including:

  • Amerigroup
  • Georgia WIC Program
  • Blossom Lactation
  • Local Departments of Public Health
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Additional healthcare providers and community organizations throughout the region

Together, these partnerships expand access to education, resources, and services that support healthy pregnancies and healthy families.

How You Can Help

Improving maternal and infant health is a community effort, and everyone has a role to play.

You can support this initiative by:

  • Learning more about maternal and infant health.
  • Sharing trusted resources with family, friends, and neighbors.
  • Attending community education programs and events.
  • Supporting Connecting Henry through donations or volunteer service.
  • Encouraging expectant and new parents to connect with available community resources.

Every action—big or small—helps strengthen families and create healthier futures for children across Henry County.

 

Resources:

Join Us in Building Healthier Communities

Healthy pregnancies lead to healthier babies, stronger families, and a stronger Henry County.

Through collaboration, education, and community partnerships, Connecting Henry is working to ensure every mother, every baby, and every family has the opportunity to thrive.

Want to get involved? Attend one of our community events, become a community partner, or support our work through a donation. Together, we can make a lasting difference.