“I believe the way we care for mothers and children in Fort Worth is a true measure of our city's success. When I first convened the Maternal and Infant Health Coalition in 2022, Fort Worth and Tarrant County already had exceptional medical providers and resources – but we lacked the coordination needed to truly improve outcomes for mothers and babies. This project and its funding will enhance that collaboration and create real impact in our region for years to come.” – Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker
Fort Worth and Tarrant County have a maternal and infant health crisis that varies dramatically by ZIP code. So, in 2022, Mayor Mattie Parker convened the Tarrant County Maternal & Infant Health Coalition, a group of Fort Worth stakeholders and CEOs of service agencies, to collaborate in a new way to better serve the women, children, and families in our community.
The effort has expanded and evolved into the North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator (MHA) led by TCU's Burnett School of Medicine and UT Southwestern Medical Center. The group is working to reduce severe obstetric complications by 20% across Dallas and Tarrant Counties. Launched with 11 Texas foundations, the State of Texas, and over 120 partner organizations, the MHA deploys evidence-based interventions across the maternal care continuum while pioneering outcome-based payment models that align financial incentives with better health for mothers.
Learn more about the North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator.