Indiana Rural Health Association
Centene Foundation partners with community-based organizations to remove barriers to health and empower communities to create lasting change. Its partnership with the Indiana Rural Health Association supports efforts to expand access to maternal and infant care in rural communities through mobile, community-based care models.
At a Glance
INVESTMENT
TIMELINE
Launched in 2025
PARTNERS
- Centene Foundation
- Managed Health Services (MHS) Indiana
- Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA)
PROGRAM
Rural Indiana Connections to Healthcare (RICH) program
REGION
Lawrence and Orange Counties, Indiana
FOCUS
Rural health, maternal and infant care access, care coordination
About Indiana Rural Health Association
The Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) works to improve the health and well-being of rural populations across Indiana through leadership, education, advocacy, and collaboration.
IRHA identifies key rural health challenges and partners across the public and private sectors to strengthen access to care and improve health outcomes.
The Centene Foundation Partnership
In 2024, Centene Foundation and MHS Indiana committed a multi-year grant to support the Rural Indiana Connections to Healthcare (RICH) program.
This partnership focuses on building a mobile integrated health network to support maternal and infant care. Through the RICH program, care teams help bring services closer to where people live through in-home visits, clinic and hospital-based support, community visits and phone consultations that connect pregnant and postpartum women with care closer to home.
Services Provided
Through the RICH program, this partnership supports:
- A mobile integrated health network that reaches women through in-home visits, clinic and hospital visits, community-based support and phone consultations
- Care coordination and community engagement to help connect pregnant and postpartum women with local services, referrals and follow-up support
- Collaboration with healthcare providers and community organizations to identify unmet needs and strengthen maternal and infant care delivery in Lawrence and Orange Counties
Community Impact
The RICH program is helping connect women and families in Lawrence and Orange Counties with maternal and infant care through a mobile, community-based care model.
From the program’s launch in 2025 through June 2026, program activity included:
- 59 participants enrolled in the RICH program across Lawrence and Orange Counties
- 68 visits completed through the program’s mobile, community-based care model
- 28 referrals provided to help connect participants with healthcare and community resources
- 125 educational materials distributed to support maternal and infant health needs
- 202 resources provided to participants and families
- Early program data indicate an average referral-to-enrollment period of one day, with all referrals receiving appropriate follow-up and closure according to program processes
These results reflect the program’s growing reach across Lawrence and Orange Counties and its ability to connect women and families with timely care and supportive resources.