New facility bringing prenatal care to underserved women

By Juliette Coulter

Ninety percent of maternal deaths in Texas may have been preventable.

Hope Cottage, a North Texas nonprofit with a 105-year history of transforming lives by uniting and strengthening families, announced plans this week for a new maternal health clinic in partnership with HHM Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and nonprofit that provides cost-efficient medical services. The George and Fay Young Foundation is investing $2 million to fund the clinic that will bring prenatal care to underserved women. The facility, to be located at Hope Cottage in East Dallas near downtown, will be named in honor of George and Fay Young’s late daughter, Carol Young Marvin, whom they adopted through Hope Cottage.

Leadership from Hope Cottage and HHM Health shared the news at Hope Cottage’s 105^th Anniversary Celebration at its headquarters in East Dallas near downtown, located at 609 Texas Street.

Stephanie Bohan, chief executive officer for Hope Cottage, said: “Strong families begin with healthy births. Yet here in Dallas and across the state we are seeing a crisis in maternal health, with many mothers unable to access prenatal care, putting them and their children at risk. We are thrilled to partner with HHM Health, which shares our commitment to helping pregnant women get the services needed to deliver healthy babies.”

Texas ranks 49^th in the nation for women’s health, according to a new study from the Commonwealth Fund analyzing publicly available data released today. Thirty percent of women received no early prenatal care in the first trimester, putting Texas last on this measure. The 2022 Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee reportestimated that 90 percent of maternal deaths in Texas may have been preventable and named increasing access to health services during pregnancy as a top recommendation for improving outcomes for mothers and babies.

“HHM Health recognizes the need for better women’s healthcare in the great state of Texas. So many of our patients are part of vulnerable communities and often don’t know where to turn. We have made a commitment to continue to step up and be that resource for women in Dallas. Partnering with Hope Cottage allows us to reach more mothers and help them deliver safely,” said Brian Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer at HHM Health.

The clinic will be located at Hope Cottage’s location at 609 Texas Street in the Wilson District, adjacent to Deep Ellum and downtown Dallas. On-site, HHM Health will offer low-cost pregnancy testing, Medicaid enrollment and prenatal care. In coordination, Hope Cottage will provide mothers with parenting education, case management and access to community resources during and after their pregnancies, as well as adoption information and counseling for women who wish to explore that option. Women served at the clinic will be referred to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas for labor and delivery. After delivery, HHM Health will continue to care for mothers at its Women’s Health Center in Vickery Meadow and babies at its Pediatric Clinic off Walnut Hill Lane.

The $2 million gift from The George and Fay Young Foundation will fund renovations to create the clinic space on Hope Cottage’s first floor, plus five years of Hope Cottage’s pregnancy program costs. Construction on the clinic will begin in August, and an opening is planned for January 2024. It will initially open for two days a week, with plans to expand as community outreach increases demand for services.

Hope Cottage has engaged RGC Royal General Contractors to lead construction on the project, bringing back the same team that built their facility that opened in 2016.

The new clinic will be HHM Health’s fifth location, with other clinics in East Dallas on Greenville Avenue, in Vickery Meadow off Pineland Drive, a pediatric office off Walnut Hill Lane, and a clinic in Oak Cliff at Trinity Basin Preparatory’s Jefferson Campus. HHM Health’s nine service lines include women’s health, pediatrics, adult medicine, vision, dental, behavioral health, imaging and 340B pharmacy.

ABOUT HOPE COTTAGE

Hope Cottage transforms lives with the love of family through adoption, foster care, education and parenting support. The Dallas-based organization offers a full continuum of services to nurture the healthy relationships essential for families and communities to thrive. Founded in 1918 as a children’s home, Hope Cottage has connected thousands of children with loving forever families through adoption. The organization has grown over the decades to respond to community needs – from the pressing need for safe, caring foster homes, to education and support for families in crisis. For more information about Hope Cottage, visit www.hopecottage.org, or connect on Facebook @HopeCottage or Instagram @Hope_Cottage.

ABOUT HHM HEALTH

HHM Health is a nonprofit community health organization that provides quality healthcare to all its neighbors with love, compassion and respect. They accept patients with no insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, ACA plans and commercial insurance. They ensure everyone can be seen.