The Marjaree Mason Center (MMC) in Fresno, California, has announced a $400,000 grant from the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation to help reduce pre-term birth rates among pregnant women who have experienced domestic violence. 

The grant will support MMC’s Maternal Health Program, a collaborative project between MMC, University of California, San Francisco Fresno (UCSF), and the Fresno County Department of Public Health that aims to reduce incidents of pre-term births and improve the overall health and well-being of mothers and babies by addressing their comprehensive needs. To that end, the grant will support prenatal care, mental health support, assistance in navigating the healthcare and social services systems, and education and resources to help women make informed decisions about their health and the health of their unborn child.

The Maternal Health Program is available to pregnant women connected with MMC through one of its other emergency support programs. Twice a month, participants access assistance at clinics staffed by OB/GYNs from UCSF. Participants are also supported by a public health nurse from the county who follows the women through their pregnancies and continues home-care support six weeks after the baby is delivered. Since the soft launch of this program in 2022, five babies have been delivered to term, and there are currently 14 participants being supported. 

Studies show that experiencing domestic violence during pregnancy often leads to reduced prenatal care, which leads to low gestational weight gain, pre-term birth, and low infant birthweight. Moreover, it is common for the unborn baby to become an additional target of physical abuse in relationships experiencing domestic violence.

“MMC expresses our heartfelt gratitude to the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation for ensuring that we have the resources to provide holistic care to expectant mothers,” said MMC chief executive Nicole Linder. “The significant investment from Anthem, and partnership with UCSF Fresno and County of Fresno Public Health, will provide intensive care for mothers and babies during one of the most traumatic and lonely times in their lives.” 

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