ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — UW Health has received a $10 million federal grant to expand maternal health care services across its Rockford and Elgin campuses. Provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the funding will focus on physical health, mental health and social needs during pregnancy.
The initiative comes as Illinois addresses significant maternal health challenges, with an average of 110 mothers dying each year in the state during pregnancy or within one year after giving birth. Regional leaders met Wednesday to discuss implementation strategies for the grant.
Jen Callison, the Director of Women’s Child Services for UW Health, said, ” Maternal mortality and morbidity rates are high. And so, anything we can do to improve those is very important. And we know it can’t just be our hospital alone working on this, or Crusader Health alone working on this. We have to partner together. And then we have to partner with our community partners to make those improvements. “…