Healthy Moms,
Healthy Babies America

Maternal mortality has more than doubled since the early 1980s, and the U.S. now has the worst maternal death rate in the developed world.

84% of these deaths are preventable

Heartland Forward's Maternal & Child Health Center for Policy & Practice is launching an ambitious five-year national initiative to address the maternal health crisis in the United States.

Our Goal

Cut U.S. maternal mortality in half in five years.

By the Numbers

The cost of inaction:

$165 billion

annually

The economic impact of poor maternal health outcomes.

Nearly 1%

of U.S. GDP annually

Cost of poor maternal health in the U.S. lost each year.

The United States has the highest rate of maternal deaths in the developed world—and it's rising:

Bar chart showing maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 by country

Source: The Commonwealth Fund, CDC
*latest 2024 data

Maternal deaths have more than doubled since the early 1980s

Line chart showing maternal deaths per 100,000 live births from 1982 to 2022

U.S. Maternal Deaths per 100,000 Live Births
Source: CDC

The national infant death rate ranges from 3.1 to 8.9 depending on state

Chart showing infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births by country and U.S. state

Source: The Commonwealth Fund — Infant Mortality Rate per 1,000 Live Births

The Pillars

By focusing on the following three pillars of action, maternal mortality can be cut in half in five years:

Improve prenatal care

  • Expand insurance coverage, telehealth and virtual care access; promote team-based care and embrace a whole-health approach to care

Strengthen postpartum care

  • Start home visits and/or virtual care checks within two weeks of birth, mandate mental health screenings and expand paid leave

Make maternal health good business

  • Unbundle payments, expand and increase reimbursements, reform medical liability laws, expand maternal care education and innovate new payment systems for benefits and care

Five Levers of Action

Our Mission

Advancing Maternal Health, Strengthening Workforce and Improving Community Outcomes

Proven Policy Playbook

Applying a proven playbook in partnership with policymakers, providers and community organizations to advance maternal health.

Economic Impact

Building on the Economic Case for Investing in Maternal Health, proving that improved maternal health outcomes directly strengthen state economies.

Proven Results

Using this approach, states have improved their maternal health rankings by nearly 20 positions in just 7 years.

What We Do

Advance Research

Demonstrating how maternal resilience and improved maternal health outcomes strengthen state economies. Building data-driven models that support effective solutions in rural areas.

Unite Local Leaders

Convening community health leaders and lawmakers to strengthen care pathways. Acting as a convener and technical expert—supporting initiatives like reopening labor and delivery units.

Effective Solutions

Equipping providers with the tools and policies needed to deliver team-based care. Integrating community health workers and doulas while addressing regulatory and staffing challenges.

Program News

Maternal Health Stakeholders Across Arkansas Convene to Renew Commitment to Accessible Care

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Valuing the Midwifery Workforce with Heartland Forward's Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice

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Heartland Forward Announces Zoe Maddox, Ph.D. as Director of Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice

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Heartland Forward Launches Maternal and Child Health Center to Improve Health Outcomes in the Heartland

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Protecting Youth Mental Health Across the Heartland: The Impact of Universal Mental Health Screenings in Illinois Schools

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Resources & Research

The Economic Case for Investing in Maternal Health

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Navigating Cost and Maternal Healthcare

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Community Health Workers, Doulas and Midwives

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Maternal & Child Health One Pager

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Our Story

Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank that turns ideas into action for states and local communities.

Our mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country and generate $500 million of economic impact to the heartland by 2030. We do this through applied research, community-driven programs, policy and convenings—focusing on regional competitiveness, talent pipeline and health and wellness.

Since 2025, Heartland Forward's Maternal and Child Health Center for Policy and Practice has partnered with policymakers, providers and community organizations to drive lasting improvements in care and support for moms at every step—because strong, healthy mothers build strong, healthy communities.