Church + Maternal Health PILOT Program

Houston and the surrounding region are facing maternal health outcomes that urgently call for community-centered support. Maternal mortality and pregnancy-related complications in Texas and Harris County remain significantly higher than national averages, and up to 80% of these deaths are preventable with timely education, support, and care.

In Harris County, maternal death rates have been among the highest in the country, with pregnancy-related mortality significantly elevated, particularly for Black and Hispanic birthing people.
Statewide, Texas has one of the higher maternal mortality ratios in the U.S., with reports showing substantial increases in recent years and preventable causes accounting for the majority of deaths.
Access to early prenatal care remains a challenge for many in our community, with less than half of birthing people in some areas receiving care in the first trimester.

These data reflect a broader reality: medical care alone is not enough. Without education, trusted support, community connection, and practical resources, many families fall through the cracks at the most vulnerable time of life — during pregnancy and postpartum.

At MILK Maternity, we are passionate about partnering with the Houston community to address these gaps through education, empowerment, and collective care.

Sources:

Understanding Houston+1

Kinder Institute

Babyscripts

Houston State of Health

Target Zipcodes

77004 (Third Ward)
77016 (East Little York/Homestead)
77021 (Southwestern Gardens/MacGregor)
77033 (Sunnyside/South Acres)
77035 (Willowbend/Westbury)
77047 (Minnetex)
77067 (North Houston)
77088 (Inwood/Northwest)
77091 (Northside/Greater Inwood)
77093, 77026 (Kashmere Gardens/Fifth Ward)*
77016 (East Little York/Homestead)*
77032 (Near IAH)*
77365 (Lake Houston Area)

*Critical area of need

maternal mortality rates comparison houston.png

The Church is uniquely positioned to change this.

What We Do

MILK Maternity partners with churches to equip women to support mothers before, during, and after birth through education, structure, and coordinated care.

We train women to:

• Understand pregnancy and postpartum warning signs

• Provide meaningful, informed support to mothers

• Identify when something isn't right

• Encourage timely medical follow-up

• Walk alongside families during the most vulnerable season

This work strengthens families, protects mothers, and builds healthier communities.

Join the PILOT

Our workshops bring maternal health knowledge directly into community spaces - churches, community centers, nonprofits, employer wellness programs, and local organizations - so families can access support without barriers.

Learning includes:

A fundamental understanding of maternal health disparities, their causes, and risk factors
How community and lifestyle factors can mitigate those risks
How individuals and churches can support mothers in practical ways throughout the perinatal period
The best practices for reaching women in the community who are underserved

Join the Church + Maternal Health PILOT Program

This 6–8 week pilot designed for 3–5 churches committed to equipping their communities to respond to the maternal health crisis.

What Participating Churches Receive:

✓ Leadership assessment and implementation planning

✓ Maternal support training for women's ministry members

✓ Optional group-scale doula training for a committed cohort

✓ Customizable implementation toolkit (templates, forms, schedules)

✓ Ongoing support during rollout and activation

✓ Outcome tracking and comprehensive reporting

✓ Access to peer learning network with other pilot churches

This is not a one-time event—it's a sustainable framework churches can build on for years to come.

Sustained community support is one of the most powerful tools we have for improving maternal outcomes.

How the Pilot Works

The pilot follows a proven 4-phase structure designed to move your church from interest to lasting impact:

Phase 1: Church Intake & Readiness (Pre-programming)

We begin with a comprehensive discovery process to understand your church's unique context, capacity, and goals.

What happens:

• 60–90 minute leadership discovery call

• Church maternal health baseline assessment

• Training track selection (maternal support training and/or doula cohort)

• Pilot partnership agreement (mutual commitments)

• Customized implementation timeline

Phase 2: Core Training (Weeks 1-3)

Churches choose one or both training tracks based on their goals and capacity.

Track A: Maternal Support Training Series (Church-Wide)

2–3 interactive sessions open to women's ministry members and volunteers, covering:

• Pregnancy and postpartum warning signs

• Fourth trimester realities and maternal recovery

• Breastfeeding basics and in-home support

• How community support prevents medical escalation

• When and how to escalate concerns

• Child & infant CPR & 1st Aid (optional)

Goal: Equip many women with awareness, confidence, and shared language to support mothers in your congregation.

Track B: Group-Scale Doula Training (Cohort Model)

A smaller, committed group (4–8 women) receives deeper training to become a maternal support team within the church:

• Structured maternal support roles and responsibilities

• Observation and documentation basics

• Postpartum home support frameworks

• Advocacy and referral pathways

• Sustainable service models inside the church

Goal: Develop a trained maternal support team ready to provide hands-on, coordinated care.

Phase 3: Implementation & Activation (Weeks 4-6)

We walk alongside your leadership team to ensure the training translates into sustainable action.

MILK Maternity helps your church:

• Assign clear maternal support roles

• Establish referral and escalation pathways

• Create mom-to-peer matching process

• Design simple postpartum follow-up guides (check-ins, meals, visits)

• Launch your maternal support ministry with confidence

This support ensures the burden doesn't fall on one overwhelmed volunteer - it's distributed, sustainable, and built to last.

Phase 4: Evaluation & Reporting

At the end of the pilot, your church receives a comprehensive outcome summary including:

• Training participation and completion data

• Knowledge and confidence growth metrics

• Certification for program graduates

• Identified gaps and recommendations for scaling

• Clear pathways for continuing as a long-term partner site

Join the PILOT

Join the PILOT

Who this is For

This pilot is designed for churches that are:

✓ Committed to community impact beyond Sunday services

✓ Ready to move from awareness to action

✓ Willing to dedicate leadership and volunteer capacity for 8–12 weeks

✓ Seeking practical, sustainable ways to serve families in crisis

✓ Open to data collection and outcome tracking

Ideal for: Women's ministries, church leadership teams, congregations with active community outreach, and churches located in underserved communities.