Thriving Moms Make Stronger Communities: Improving Maternal Health

“The mother is truly the foundation of the majority of most of our homes," said Dr. Shannon Case, OB/GYN. She was among the many local leaders, healthcare professionals, and community advocates gathered at the 100 Families Alliance meeting in Clarksville to discuss maternal health in rural Arkansas. Her comment capitalized on the importance of maternal health and the domino effect of our collective capacity to provide whole support for mothers.

100 Families is a community-led initiative that uses collaboration and existing resources to move families from crisis to thriving.

This discussion shed light on the disparities and gaps pregnant and postpartum mothers face.

Those gaps are wide and varied: lack of transportation, limited childcare, language access, and shortages in mental health services. But what panelists emphasized just as strongly was the human side of the crisis—the stigma, the fear, and the loneliness.

“A lot of these families don't have support,” said Leronda Paige, Coordinator for the Baby & Me Initiative, underscoring the emotional and logistical isolation many mothers face.

Dr. Case gave a sobering example: a pregnant patient working in a facility with no air conditioning, standing on her feet all day—without any legal protections or paid leave.

“There is no provision for pay surrounding pregnancy in the state of Arkansas.”

She added that employers often lack understanding, and pregnant employees are caught in the middle—afraid to speak up and unsure if accommodations will be honored.

The fear goes far deeper than discomfort or exhaustion. Stigma, particularly around mental health, addiction, and legal system involvement, often keeps women from seeking help at all. Panelists noted the lack of education and persistent stigma surrounding pregnancy and postpartum mental health. When women don’t feel safe being honest, they often suffer in silence.

“We want them to know we’re here to help, not judge," said Jaleen Robinson, Manager of Pregnancy Help Clinic.

Robinson emphasized that many women build walls, especially if they’ve had past legal trouble. She explains that many of the women she sees would rather stop care than risk gaining the notice or attention of any government service.

Dr. Case echoed this concern, noting that women are often afraid to be honest with providers about what they’re going through—especially if they fear their children might be taken from them.

Rosalina Pina, Women’s Health Coordinator at River Valley Primary Care, spoke of how trust and relationship-building are essential for complete care. Women can be timid or closed off when meeting a new provider, she said—especially if they’ve had to switch clinics or had negative experiences in the past.

Pina also emphasized that these challenges are magnified in rural areas, where transportation is unreliable, language barriers persist, and there’s a general lack of visibility around available services.

Legislation, however, is beginning to shift.

Tommy Hobbs, CEO of Johnson Regional Medical Center, shared that recent legislation supported by Representative Aaron Pilkington has led to a significant change in how prenatal care is delivered in Arkansas. Thanks to a new "presumed eligibility" model, pregnant women can now receive care immediately while their Medicaid application is pending, helping eliminate delays that previously forced many to rely solely on health departments for care. Hobbs emphasized that $45.3 million in annual funding has been allocated to maternal health initiatives statewide. However, he noted that implementation and communication remain key challenges, particularly in ensuring providers and patients are aware of and able to access new benefits.

Panelists agreed funding alone won’t fix the issue without trust, consistent outreach, and collaborative follow-through.

The meeting concluded with a challenge for attendees to carry the work forward—not just by sharing information, but by building relationships and showing up for the women who need them.

“Pregnancy doesn’t end at birth,” said Kerry Bewley, 100 Families Coordinator and Facilitator of the meeting. She echoed what many in the room felt. “It’s everything that comes after—childcare, nutrition, mental health, employment. We need to build systems that carry moms through all of it.” When mothers are supported, entire communities are strengthened.