AuguryElevance Foundation lifts up Better Births: new grant expands Atlanta reach and strengthens Indianapolis work
This article was written by the Augury Times
Grant announced and what changes it will fund
Elevance Health Foundation (ELV) announced a new grant to Creating Healthier Communities (CHC) that will expand the nonprofit’s Better Births initiative in Atlanta and reinforce its programs in Indianapolis. The funding—framed as a targeted investment in maternal and infant health—will pay for a wider slate of frontline services in specific Atlanta neighborhoods and allow CHC to keep and grow core supports already running in Indianapolis.
The foundation’s move is a direct response to stubborn gaps in access to prenatal care and community supports in both cities. In plain terms: more doulas, more coordinated visits, more outreach workers going door to door or into clinics. Program leaders say the work aims to reach pregnant people earlier and keep them connected to care through the first months after birth.
How the funding will be spent and where it will land
The grant will be split with a clear focus: a significant share for expansion in Atlanta and a committed portion to stabilize and strengthen Indianapolis programming. In Atlanta, CHC will add partner sites in neighborhoods that currently have fewer prenatal resources, increase staffing at selected community health centers, and launch neighborhood-based outreach teams. In Indianapolis, funds will shore up existing doula networks, extend care coordination hours, and solidify partnerships with local clinics to reduce churn in services.
Timelines in the announcement indicate a phased roll-out. Atlanta expansion is slated to begin with pilot sites in the coming months, followed by a broader community push over the next 12 to 18 months. Indianapolis investments are described as immediate supports to prevent service disruption while CHC seeks longer-term funding. The release also mentions matching commitments from some local partners—cash or in-kind contributions such as clinic space and staff time—that increase the total resources directed to Better Births.
Which services will be scaled and who will deliver them
The funding targets services that are proven, simple, and community-centered. Doulas and trained birth companions will receive funding to reach more pregnant people and to stay involved through the postpartum period. The grant will also cover expanded prenatal education classes, home visiting or community-based postpartum checks, and enhanced care coordination so patients don’t fall through scheduling or insurance gaps.
Delivery will be a mix of CHC staff, contracted doulas and community health workers, and partner clinics that will host programs. CHC expects service capacity to grow in both cities: more prenatal visits supported by social and behavioral services, faster referral pathways to specialty care when needed, and increased ability to monitor mothers and newborns during the critical first weeks after delivery.
Voices from the foundation, CHC and local partners
In a statement, Elevance Health Foundation framed the grant as part of its effort to address unequal outcomes in maternal care: “We are investing in community-led solutions that make prenatal and postpartum support easier to access where people live and seek care.”
CHC leadership described the money as the difference between maintaining a patchwork of help and building a more reliable local safety net. A CHC spokesperson said the funding will “expand trusted, culturally respectful care and reduce the friction pregnant people face when trying to get help.”
Local health providers and community leaders welcomed the grant as practical and immediate. Several partner clinics identified in CHC materials are expected to provide space and clinical backup for community-based services, while local doula networks will take on training and direct support roles.
What the initiative aims to change and how progress will be measured
CHC and Elevance say the initiative is trying to move a few clear levers: reduce missed prenatal visits, increase early entry into prenatal care, lower preterm births and improve early postpartum support for breastfeeding and mental health. Those are standard targets in maternal health work because they often predict better outcomes for babies and birthing people.
Evaluation plans mentioned in the grant materials include tracking service uptake (how many people get doula support or care coordination), clinical outcomes tied to birth timing and infant weight, and patient-reported experience measures such as satisfaction and perceived access. The program will report on short-term process measures during the first year and on health outcomes over two to three years, allowing CHC and funders to see whether expanded services translate into measurable improvements.
Why this matters now and what comes next
Elevance Health Foundation’s grant arrives amid broader attention to maternal health disparities nationwide. Community-led interventions like doulas and care coordination have gained more traction in recent philanthropic efforts because they focus on practical barriers—transportation, scheduling, culturally matched support—that clinical care alone often misses.
For stakeholders, the next steps are concrete: CHC will host community briefings and schedule rollout events in Atlanta neighborhoods selected for the expansion. Indianapolis partners will receive implementation timelines to keep services running without interruption. Community members should expect announcements about local clinic hours, doula training dates, and how to sign up for new programs. For local health systems, the funding offers a short-term boost and a chance to show how community-based supports can reduce emergency visits and improve continuity of care.
In short, the grant is not a cure-all, but it is a practical infusion of resources into community care where leaders say it can make the most immediate difference: earlier, steadier support for pregnant people and better follow-through after birth.
Photo: RDNE Stock project / Pexels
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