Working Together to Improve Black Maternal Health Outcomes

Black Maternal Health Week is observed April 11–17, aiming to build awareness of the health issues that disproportionately impact Black women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the months after giving birth. At Centene, this is an ongoing focus as we work to improve maternal and infant health outcomes through early identification of pregnancy, timely access to care, and tailored whole‑person interventions that address medical, behavioral, and social needs across pregnancy and postpartum. 

Maternal health is a critical public health issue, with profound implications for the well‑being of mothers, infants, and families. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women.  Addressing such disparities requires scale, sustained engagement, and accountability — areas where Centene is both deeply committed and uniquely positioned to make a difference. 

Each year, Centene manages more than 330,000 deliveries, with approximately 90% occurring within our Medicaid population and more than 30% considered high risk. With this reach, Centene has a responsibility to help improve birth outcomes and support members before, during, and after pregnancy, including closing gaps that most often affect Black mothers and babies. 

Why Do Black Mothers Continue to Face Higher Maternal Health Risks? 

The CDC states that multiple factors contribute to these disparities, including: 

• Variation in the quality of healthcare 

• Underlying chronic conditions 

How Does Centene Identify Risk Earlier and Support Mothers Sooner? 

A key way to support healthier pregnancies, moms, and babies is to start care as early as possible. Early prenatal care supports healthy fetal development, and lowers the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and infant mortality. It also ensures that any potential health issues a mother has, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infections, or depression, are identified and managed early, before they become serious complications.  

Centene works to identify these risks early so pregnant members can get connected to the right care and support as soon as possible. Through whole‑person care models like Start Smart for Your Baby® (SSFB), Centene uses data-driven insights and enhanced assessments to identify risks early and connect members to appropriate medical care, behavioral health services, and community resources. 

Centene does this through an advanced approach to risk stratification. It allows support to be tailored 

to each member’s needs, including: 

• Clinical risk factors 

• Behavioral health needs 

• Drivers of health 

What is Start Smart for Your Baby® (SSFB)? 

SSFB is Centene’s flagship maternal child health program, designed to improve outcomes by helping members get connected to care earlier, stay engaged throughout pregnancy, and receive support after delivery. 

SSFB provides integrated care management, education, and coordination throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Recent program enhancements include trimester‑based assessments that help identify member needs throughout the pregnancy, enabling more tailored support. 

Members access support through the SSFB website, which offers accessible, evidence‑based pregnancy and postpartum care resources and provide timely, reliable information, which can be especially helpful for mothers navigating barriers to care. 

How Do Community‑Based Doula Strategies Support Maternal Care? 

Community‑based doula strategies strengthen access and continuity across pregnancy and postpartum. Through partnerships with trusted community organizations, doulas provide non‑clinical support that helps members navigate the healthcare system, prepare for birth, and stay engaged during the postpartum period. These strategies are designed to complement clinical care by building trust, reinforcing follow‑up, and helping address barriers that can disrupt care across the maternity journey. 

How Is Centene Supporting Mothers and Babies Beyond Birth? 

In 2026, Centene launched a pilot for its First Years of Life (FYOL) program to strengthen continuity of care for both mothers and babies after birth and throughout the postpartum period during the critical early years. FYOL aims to improve child health by: 

• Promoting well‑child visits 

• Offering transportation support 

• Supporting early developmental screenings  

• Fostering positive parenting to reduce adverse childhood experiences 

FYOL is supported by care coordination and targeted outreach designed to help keep both mothers and babies connected to care during the postpartum period and early childhood. The program helps identify and prevent gaps in care and deliver timely, appropriate interventions. 

What Early Progress Is Centene Seeing From These Efforts? 

Early indicators across maternal health initiatives show improved engagement from pregnant members and continuity of care. Internal analyses of SSFB also show higher rates of prenatal and postpartum care among members who receive outreach or complete pregnancy assessments. 

While many initiatives are ongoing, these early indicators suggest that identifying needs early and connecting members to community‑based support can help reduce gaps across the maternity journey. Centene is working to make doula partnerships consistent across markets by establishing shared guidance and best practices. Together, these efforts reflect what we know matters most in maternal health: timely engagement, trusted community connections, and sustained support before and after birth. 

Improving maternal and infant health outcomes is a priority for Centene, with a focus on strengthening access to care and community‑based support to improve outcomes for families nationwide.