Prisma Health Secures $1.6 Million Duke Endowment Grant to Enhance Maternal and Infant Care

In a significant effort to improve health outcomes for mothers and newborns across the state, Prisma Health has been awarded a $1.6 million grant from The Duke Endowment.

The major funding injection will allow the healthcare system to expand dedicated maternal and infant healthcare services. The grant integrates Prisma Health into a multi-year regional network focused on reducing high-risk factors and improving equitable care coordination.

Expanding Digital Care Outreach

The $1.6 million investment primarily supports the implementation of proactive, text-based and phone-based screenings to stay in close contact with patients throughout pregnancy and their first postpartum year.

Through these continuous digital touchpoints, care teams can screen for and identify critical medical, behavioral, and social needs early. The model has already demonstrated success in boosting the early detection and treatment of:

• Maternal depression and anxiety disorders

• Chronic health conditions

• Substance use disorders

• Intimate partner violence and unmet social support needs

A Timely Expansion for the Upstate and Midlands

Prisma Health is one of the select health systems utilizing this funding to launch the expanded program network. The initiative bridges a vital gap in care, specifically targeting regional sectors where maternal morbidity and mortality numbers trend above national averages.

Health officials noted that the funding aligns perfectly with ongoing expansions of critical family services across the region. By collaborating with local doctors, public health agencies, and community groups, the care team plans to maximize outreach.

The program will also establish a local community advisory board to identify localized resource gaps, ensuring that the rollout directly reflects the specific needs and experiences of local families.