General News
Cape Fear Valley Health has been awarded a $1.6 million grant from The Duke Endowment to participate in the Maternal Infant Health (MIH) Carolinas initiative, a multiyear effort focused on improving maternal and infant health outcomes across North Carolina and South Carolina, strengthening care coordination and advancing health equity.
The initiative supports H.E.A.R. (Healing, Equity, Advocacy and Respect) 4 Mamas and Babies (H4MAB), a text- and phone-based screening and referral program developed by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The program is designed to identify medical, behavioral health and social needs early in pregnancy and throughout the postpartum year.
The model proactively connects participants to timely and trusted services and has demonstrated significant improvements in the detection and treatment of maternal depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, chronic health conditions, intimate partner violence and unmet social determinants of health needs.
The Duke Endowment’s investment will support participating health systems in planning and implementing H4MAB. The initiative includes participation in a peer learning community and access to a comprehensive Technical Assistance and Training Center led by MUSC in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The center provides training, technology support, cross-site evaluation and data resources, along with ongoing technical assistance to strengthen implementation efforts. It will also collaborate with state agencies, Medicaid programs and private payers to explore long-term reimbursement pathways for program sustainability.
“We are thrilled to launch this initiative in partnership with MUSC, UNC-Chapel Hill and five health systems,” said Jay Kennedy, senior program officer with The Duke Endowment’s Health Care program area. “Our aim is to work together to replicate and scale this program in hopes of improving health outcomes for more women and infants across the Carolinas.”
Cape Fear Valley Health is one of five health systems selected by The Duke Endowment to form a regional network focused on reducing risk factors associated with poor maternal and infant health outcomes while ensuring families across the Carolinas receive timely support and care.
As part of the initiative, Cape Fear Valley Health will collaborate with local health care providers, public health agencies and community-based organizations to share information about H4MAB and connect families with medical, behavioral health, social support and peer support resources. The health system will also convene a community advisory board to provide feedback, identify resource gaps and help ensure implementation reflects local community needs and experiences.
“In Cumberland County, maternal health isn’t just a medical issue — it is a community crisis, with persistent racial disparities and preterm birth rates holding at a staggering 11.9%, the highest rate in the state,” said Kathya Gavazzi, corporate director of Women and Children’s Services at Cape Fear Valley Health. “This grant will allow us to move beyond the clinic walls and address root causes such as housing, nutrition and mental health, because every mother in our county deserves a safe pregnancy and a healthy start for her baby.”
About The Duke Endowment
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $5 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.
